News
MOSAIC Was Supposed to Fix This
FLYING Magazine Last in a three-part series Put the first two pieces in this series together and the picture is stark. The industry is shipping more premium metal to a buyer population that’s increasingly insulated from the rate environment, while the rate environment itself is more likely to get worse than better for everyone else. That “everyone else” is the piston buyer: the segment GAMA’s Q2 data shows is still growing in unit terms (786 aircraft shipped through the first half of 2026) ... read more
Texas eVTOL Program Moves From Planning to Flight Tests
Texas has begun flight demonstrations under the federal eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), moving the state’s advanced-air-mobility effort from planning into aircraft operations. The first Texas demonstrations took place Thursday at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport and included Joby Aviation’s S4 electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft and BETA Technologies’ ALIA, according to an FAA release. Texas is the sixth location to begin operations under the program. Flights ... read more
Epic Flight Academy Adds Test Prep for A&P Certification
FLYING Magazine It takes a lot of hands-on learning and academics to earn an airframe and powerplant certificate, and now Epic Flight Academy is helping applicants make the grade with the launch of a two-week test prep course for FAA Part 147 A&P certification. According to EPA officials, the courses are offered at both the New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport (KEVB) campus in Florida and the Erlanger, Kentucky, campus at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (KCVG). READ ... read more
Third Arrest Made in FLYT Aviation RICO Case
A third person has been arrested in the FLYT Aviation case involving alleged misappropriation of student funds at the former Peachtree City, Georgia, flight school, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Former Financial Director Charged Teresa Roberson, FLYT Aviation’s former financial account director, turned herself in to police on Wednesday. Roberson currently faces 20 counts of theft by conversion and one count of violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt ... read more
Air Force Selects Up To 131 T-7As For Sheppard AFB
The Air Force has approved a plan that could eventually place as many as 131 T-7A Red Hawk trainers at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. A Federal Register notice published Thursday formally announced the Aug. 4 record of decision for the project. The Air Force selected an option that allows up to 131 aircraft, although the current strategic basing decision limits the initial delivery to 108 T-7As. T-38 Transition Starts In 2034 The Air Force’s final EIS analyzed a transition beginning in ... read more
This 1956 De Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk Is a Historic and Charismatic ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1956 de Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk. After World War II, de Havilland Aircraft’s Canadian unit wanted to develop a sturdy bush aircraft to serve its vast, remote territories. The parent company coveted a new military ... read more
Nicholas Air Loses Appeal in Whistleblower Case
A federal appeals court on Thursday rejected Nicholas Air’s attempt to overturn a Department of Labor whistleblower ruling in favor of former captain-in-training Colin DeBuse. The case was formally brought by Corr Flight S., which employs personnel for Nicholas Air, and asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to set aside the department’s final decision under federal aviation whistleblower law. The court ruling denied the petition for review. Safety Concerns DeBuse was ... read more
Meet Boeing’s Longest-Serving Employee
FLYING Magazine Last month, 96-year-old Charlie Tapper became the longest-serving employee in Boeing’s history, and CEO Kelly Ortberg said he has “no plans of retiring anytime soon.” Tapper marked 75 years with the company in June. He joined Boeing a week after receiving a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Oregon State University (then Oregon State College) in 1951. At the time, the company was still developing the B-52 Stratofortress and had yet to build the 707, which is ... read more
We Said Rates Would Pause, Then Chase Inflation. The Chase Has Started
FLYING Magazine I indicated back in the spring that rates were unlikely to change before the midterms, no matter how impartial the Fed is supposed to be, and then rise to chase inflation that was sure to come. While some bankers were still calling for cuts back then, Chair Warsh came into the job with a message that the Fed is about to go quieter and about to go up on rates. That was never a forecast built on hope for cuts. It was a read on the mechanics of the calendar and the persistence ... read more
Oakland Police Officers Accused of Faking Checkrides
Two Oakland police helicopter officers have been indicted over an alleged scheme to falsify FAA checkride records. Federal Charges Officers Brandon Mart and David Mac pleaded not guilty on Thursday in a federal court in Oakland. Former FAA aviation safety inspector William Miller was also indicted. Prosecutors allege that the three individuals falsified paperwork for four checkrides between July 2023 and March 2024 that resulted in three credentials for Mart and one for Mac, according to a ... read more
4-Seat All-Electric Cosmic One Embodies New Era of Light Sport Aircraft
FLYING Magazine There has never been an aircraft quite like Cosmic One. The model—a “premium four-seater [full] electric aircraft” according to Christopher Chahine, co-founder and CEO of Colorado-based manufacturer Cosmic Aerospace—is still in the preliminary design stage. But it is a candidate to be the first clean-sheet, four-seat, all-electric aircraft certified under the FAA’s refreshed Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certifications (MOSAIC) rule. MOSAIC took full effect in ... read more
For Airhart Avionics, It’s Flying Simplified
FLYING Magazine When you think about the future of flight, it’s easy to conjure images of flying cars and electric aircraft darkening the skies. Yet we rarely see massive quantum leaps in aviation. Instead, improvements are usually eked out in small incremental ways. But every few decades there’s a profound change that reshapes the general aviation landscape. Examples are the advent of GPS and whole airframe parachutes in the 1990s and glass cockpits in the early 2000s. Now, in a small ... read more
Bye eFlyer 2 Gets FAA Special Airworthiness Certificate
FLYING Magazine The FAA has awarded Bye Aerospace, a developer of all-electric aircraft, a Special Airworthiness Certificate for the eFlyer 2, the company’s flagship two-place airplane. The FAA issues Special Airworthiness Certificates for aircraft with unique operations needs, such as research and development. According to the Colorado-based company, the certification followed an inspection of the aircraft at Centennial Airport (KAPA) near Denver, where Bye Aerospace is completing flight ... read more
United Cancels Planned 9/11 Flyover
United Airlines has canceled a planned Sept. 11 memorial flyover over Denver that would have featured a Boeing 777 escorted by four Colorado Air National Guard F-16s. The airline said it suspended the plan because of “concerns in the community,” according to the Denver Gazette. The formation was expected to fly over United’s Flight Training Center as part of a private employee remembrance marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. The flyover was planned for around 9:03 a.m., ... read more
DOT Forms Space Task Force as Launch Forecast Reaches 10,000 a Year
The Department of Transportation has formed a new task force to coordinate federal commercial space policy as the agency prepares for a sharp increase in launch and reentry activity. DOT announced the Space Policy Administration, Coordination, and Execution (SPACE) Task Force on Wednesday and said it expects FAA-licensed launches and reentries to reach 10,000 annually by 2035. Airspace Integration The SPACE Task Force will be chaired by Under Secretary of Transportation Ryan McCormack and ... read more
Wayfarer Tests Retractable Electric Propellers on Cessna 182
Wayfarer Aircraft has completed flight testing of a retractable distributed electric propulsion system designed to improve short-field performance on existing aircraft. The company tested its Waylift system on a one-third-scale Cessna 182 as part of a NASA-backed research program. System Stows for Cruise Waylift places multiple electric propellers along the wing to blow air over the wing during takeoff and landing, increasing lift at low speeds. The propellers retract into the wing for ... read more
Texas, Joby Begin FAA-Backed Air Taxi Airport Demonstrations
FLYING Magazine Precertified electric air taxis have begun a weeklong demonstration campaign in Texas that will see them fly directly into airports alongside regular air traffic, under a contract with the FAA. Joby Aviation said Thursday that the activities involving its preproduction prototype eVTOL aircraft, which has not yet been type certified, will show off the air taxi’s “ability to integrate into busy airspace,” including the controlled airspace of Dallas/Fort Worth International ... read more
The Market Doesn’t Want What It Used to Want
FLYING Magazine GAMA’s second-quarter 2026 shipment report landed September 3, and the headline number is fine: 1,458 airplanes shipped through the first half of the year, up modestly from 2025’s pace, with piston deliveries alone running at 786 units year-to-date. But the unit count is the least interesting thing in this report. The more useful question is what buyers are actually choosing once they show up with a checkbook, and the data is plain on that point: the market is moving ... read more
Avgas Tax Holiday Extends Through January in Canada
Canada has extended its temporary federal fuel excise tax suspension through Jan. 31, 2027, keeping the tax at zero on leaded and unleaded aviation gasoline as well as other aviation fuels. Under a government announcement Thursday, the suspension saves 11 Canadian cents per liter on leaded avgas, 10 cents per liter on unleaded avgas and 4 cents per liter on other aviation fuel. Rates Return in February The tax will begin returning Feb. 1 at half of its normal rate. Through March 31, Canada ... read more
NTSB Releases Preliminary CVR Transcript from Prime Air Crash
FLYING Magazine The transcript of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) aboard the Amazon Prime Air Boeing 767 that went off the runway at Miami International Airport (KMIA) reveals the pilots recognized the aircraft was too fast on the approach. On Wednesday the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released information gleaned from the last few minutes of the CVR and flight data recorder (FDR) of 21 Air Flight 7598. Video of the event shows the aircraft landing long and going off the ... read more
EASA Prepares for More AI in the Cockpit
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency is moving its artificial intelligence program toward aviation-specific regulations as developers demonstrate systems for cockpit decision-making, safety analysis and certification during EASA AI Days in Cologne, Germany. EASA’s rulemaking manager for AI is providing an update Thursday on RMT.0742, the agency’s effort to establish requirements for the use of AI across regulated aviation activities, according to the conference event agenda. Rules ... read more
This 2005 Zenith CH 701 SP Is a STOL-Ready ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2005 Zenith CH 701 SP. Celebrated now for more than 40 years for its legendary short-field prowess, the Zenith CH 701 SP delivers incredible low-speed handling and rugged versatility. It holds a distinct appeal for ... read more
25 Years Later: How 9/11 Forever Reshaped General Aviation Airspace
FLYING Magazine I pointed to the magenta line on the VFR sectional. “What’s this?” I asked the aspiring private pilot. “Some place we’re not supposed to go,” he replied confidently. “What kind of airspace is it?” I asked. There was a moment of indecision, then he reached for the key on the sectional, found the answer, then went back to the airspace. Located within a rectangular box on the sectional are the words in all caps: “FOR REASONS OF NATIONAL SECURITY PILOTS ARE REQUESTED TO AVOID ... read more
Aviation Groups Seek Uniform Safety Rules for Part 91, 125, 135 Operators
FLYING Magazine A coalition of aviation organizations has urged the FAA to eliminate state and local rest and duty requirements for flight crews operating under Parts 91, 125, and 135, arguing that a jumble of differing rules could jeopardize safety and efficiency. The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), National Air Transportation ... read more
NTSB Data: Go-Around Thrust After Miami 767 Touchdown
New flight recorder data from the Boeing 767 that overran Runway 30 at Miami International Airport Sunday shows the aircraft’s throttles advanced to values consistent with go-around thrust after touchdown. During a Tuesday evening briefing, NTSB investigators said the brakes were released before the increase in thrust, then reapplied four seconds later after the throttles returned to idle. The 21 Air freighter was operating an Amazon Prime Air flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico, when it ... read more
Archer Begins ‘No Roads’ Tour With Piloted Midnight Flights
Archer Aviation has begun a series of city-to-city flights designed to demonstrate its Midnight electric air taxi in real-world operating environments, starting with a piloted round trip between Salinas and Hollister, California. The Sept. 4 flight was the first stop on Archer’s “No Roads” tour. Midnight flew each leg in about 12 minutes, covering more than 40 miles round trip and reaching a reported 125 mph at a cruise altitude of 3,550 feet. Archer said the same trips can take about 40 ... read more
Operator of Crashed Prime Air 767 Faced Safety Concerns
FLYING Magazine National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said Tuesday that she did not “know anything” about “reports of safety concerns” she has seen involving 21 Air—the operator of a Boeing 767-33A that crashed Sunday at Miami International Airport (KMIA), killing five people. Since Homendy’s news briefing Tuesday, the second and final on-scene conference the NTSB conducted regarding the accident and investigation, former 21 Air employees have raised concerns with the ... read more
California Moves to Restrict Drones Near Large Outdoor Events
California lawmakers have approved legislation that would prohibit unauthorized drone operations within 400 feet of certain large, ticketed outdoor events, according to a recent report by PickDrones. Assembly Bill 2113, introduced by Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, would make it an infraction to operate an unmanned aircraft within 400 feet of, or directly above, a ticketed outdoor entertainment event. The restriction would apply to concerts, sporting events and performing arts shows held at ... read more
House Report Calls for Study of Brain Injuries in Navy Pilots
A House Oversight Committee report is calling for a comprehensive study of the long-term effects of high-G maneuvers, carrier launches, and arrested landings on Navy aviators, saying the service has not done enough to determine whether repeated exposure could cause cumulative brain injuries. The report, released Tuesday, says senior Navy officials were alerted to mental-health concerns within the naval aviation community, including several pilot suicides, but did not launch a formal ... read more
‘Aviation Start’ Episode 2 Details How to Earn a Pilot Certificate for Free
FLYING Magazine The second episode of Aviation Start, FLYING’s new career-focused video podcast hosted by Jamail Larkins, takes on the biggest barrier between most aspiring aviators and the cockpit—the cost of flight training. “You can go from zero flight time to actually getting your private pilot’s license if you do it right, completely free,” Larkins said in the episode. His guest is David Leiting, Eagles program manager for the Experimental Aircraft Association. Leiting lays out the ... read more
Aviation Groups Urge FAA to Assert Federal Authority Over Pilot Duty, Rest Rules
A coalition of aviation organizations is urging the FAA to make clear that federal regulations governing flightcrew duty and rest requirements take precedence over state and local laws. The comments were submitted in response to an FAA proposal aimed at establishing federal preemption over state and local meal and rest requirements for airline flightcrews and flight attendants. The agency’s proposal focuses on Part 121 operations, but the aviation groups want the final rule to cover a ... read more
What Is the Best Way to Navigate a Flight Training Finish-Up Program?
FLYING Magazine Question: I have been trying to finish my private pilot certificate for the better part of three years. The delay is a combination of factors: work, family, and the fact I am a “bucket list” pilot and the flight school is geared toward people training for the airlines. I’ve tried different flight schools, but they’re pretty much the same, and I rarely get on the schedule more than once a week. Because of this I am considering a concentrated finish-up program. It means going ... read more
This 1981 Mooney M20J 201 Is a Sleek ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1981 Mooney M20J 201. Renowned for squeezing maximum speed out of every horsepower, the Mooney M20J—widely known as the 201—delivers an exceptional blend of aerodynamic efficiency and cross-country capability. It ... read more
Chart Wise: Hayward, California (KHWD) RNAV GPS Rwy 28L
FLYING Magazine Centrally located in the San Francisco Bay Area, Hayward Executive Airport (KHWD) in California might just be a good place for a pilot to use to gain access to the many attractions in the area. The RNAV GPS RWY 28L approach is a way to get down to the airport when weather conditions are less than optimal VMC. Hayward Executive Airport approach in California [Credit: Jeppesen] This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine If you're not already a subscriber, what ... read more
‘They Must Build Here’: Bombardier Responds to Trump’s Latest Threat
FLYING Magazine Bombardier on Monday responded to President Donald Trump’s threat to bar sales of the manufacturer’s private jets in the U.S., adding to long-standing tensions between the company and its largest market. Trump on his social media platform Truth Social on Monday vowed to shut out Bombardier from the U.S. market, writing that “if they want our Market, they must build here, and stop treating America like a ‘piggybank.’” Bombardier responded by pointing out that it already has ... read more
Longmont Revives Airport Landing Fee Discussion
Landing fees are again under consideration at Vance Brand Municipal Airport in Longmont, Colorado, less than a year after the city council rejected a proposal to charge aircraft $5 per 1,000 pounds of landing weight. Following a new rates study, council voted 4-3 in July to direct staff to return with a broader rates-and-charges schedule aimed at improving the airport’s financial sustainability. Revenue Options The Bolton & Menk study found the airport’s existing lease rates slightly ... read more
How to Navigate Hazards and Distractions of Fall Flying
FLYING Magazine If you live in a part of the world that has seasons when the trees change color, prepare yourself for more crowded skies. Starting in September there are significantly more aircraft over autumnal forests and the perennial seasonal favorite—the corn maze next to the pumpkin patch. My favorite place to practice in the Seattle area is located over farmland east of the airport. Every year there are bright-orange pumpkins and mazes to find. In addition to training flights, there ... read more
Search Underway Off Bahamas After Piper Seneca Carrying Family of 4 Goes Down
FLYING Magazine Authorities are searching for the occupants of a Piper Seneca that went down off the Bahamas on Monday afternoon. Officials reported Tuesday that a body had recovered, but no details were given. Those on board the aircraft have been identified as four members of the same family. Mario Lamar, 80, was the pilot, and his wife, Lily Lamar, 79, their grandchildren, Christian Sosa, 22, and Sophie Sosa, 28, accompanied him on the flight. Family members told authorities that Mario ... read more
Rotax Orders Turbo Part Replacement Before Next Flight
Rotax has issued a mandatory service bulletin requiring replacement of the turbocharger valve housing on certain 915 i and 916 i series engines before the next flight. The Sept. 3 bulletin applies to engines and spare turbocharger assemblies identified by serial number. Cracks Found During Testing Rotax identified oil leakage around the turbocharger valve housing during end-of-line testing. Further investigation found cracks and insufficient wall thickness in some housings caused by what ... read more
NTSB Provides First Update on Fatal Amazon Prime Air Crash
FLYING Magazine The National Transportation Safety Board on Monday convened its first news briefing in the wake of Sunday’s fatal accident involving an Amazon Prime Air cargo jet that overran the runway at Miami International Airport (KMIA), killing five people. NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy led the briefing and described the accident scene as “utter devastation,” with debris from the aircraft and two vehicles it struck spread “everywhere.” Homendy said that investigative teams had yet ... read more
On Our Radar: Top Aviation Picks From FLYING Magazine
FLYING Magazine Here is a collection of editor-recommended aviation products and services that are worth a closer look. From practical tools to thoughtful solutions, this is what caught our eye in the June Ultimate Issue 971 of the FLYING print edition. This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine If you're not already a subscriber, what are you waiting for? Subscribe today to get the issue as soon as it is released in either Print or Digital formats. Subscribe ... read more
Body Found in Search for Missing Bahamas Plane
One body has been recovered during the search for a Piper PA-34 carrying four members of a Florida family that disappeared Monday on a flight from the Bahamas to South Florida. NBC 6 reported Tuesday that the body was located by a relative participating in a civilian search organized by the family. The person has not been publicly identified. The aircraft departed Great Harbour Cay before disappearing near Andros Island. According to a family statement, last known contact came at about ... read more
Trump Threatens Bombardier Sales Ban
President Donald Trump said Monday that Bombardier would no longer be allowed to sell its business jets in the United States unless the Canadian manufacturer begins producing aircraft in the country. The White House did not immediately explain how such a restriction would be implemented. U.S. Market Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post, where he criticized Bombardier aircraft and said the company would have to manufacture in the U.S. if it wanted continued access to the ... read more
NTSB: Radio Contact Established Before Fatal Pennsylvania Midair Collision
FLYING Magazine The pilots of the Cessna 150 and the state patrol Bell 407 helicopter that collided in flight near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, were in radio contact prior to the accident, according to the preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board. The accident occurred August 19 over Carlisle Airport (N94) west of Harrisburg. According to the NTSB report released Thursday, a witness stated he heard the airport Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) ... read more
Former Flight School Owners Face RICO Charges
Two former owners of FLYT Aviation in Peachtree City, Georgia, have been arrested on theft and racketeering charges following an investigation into flight school student training funds. Alex Hamlin, 34, and Harlan Hamlin, 59, each face 20 counts of theft by conversion and one count of violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, according to a Georgia Bureau of Investigation release. Both were booked into the Fayette County Jail on Sept. 4. Student Complaints ... read more
5 Dead in Amazon Prime Air 767 Crash
FLYING Magazine Multiple people were killed Sunday afternoon when an Amazon-branded cargo aircraft overran the runway at Miami International Airport (KMIA) and struck several vehicles beyond the airport’s limits. Local officials confirmed that five people died in the crash. Another five people were injured, and three of them are in critical condition, according to Miami-Dade Fire Chief Ray Jadallah. Authorities have not said if those killed were on board the Boeing 767-300, in vehicles on ... read more
This 2021 Diamond DA62 Is a Seven-Seat ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2021 Diamond DA62. Setting a high standard in the multiengine piston market, the Diamond DA62 blends carbon-fiber aerodynamics with exceptional efficiency. It appeals to owner-operators who demand modern safety ... read more
FAA Says Student Transportation Is Critical to Controller Training
The FAA says transportation for students at its Oklahoma City academy has become integral to keeping the agency’s air traffic controller training pipeline moving as it increases hiring to address staffing shortages. According to an FAA notice, the agency plans to award Airport Express a single-source contract to carry students between designated lodging properties and the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center. The FAA said interruptions in the service could delay scheduled training, disrupt ... read more
Drones Ground Arkansas Firefighting Aircraft
Two unauthorized drones interfered with aerial firefighting operations last week as crews battled a wildfire in Garland County, Arkansas. Regine Skelton of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division told KARK-TV that the drones limited the agency’s air response. The department issued similar guidance in August, warning that unauthorized drones can ground firefighting aircraft, slow emergency response and create airspace hazards. No details have been released about the ... read more
Greek F-4 Accident Kills Two Pilots
Two Hellenic Air Force pilots were killed Saturday when an F-4E Phantom II crashed near Tanagra Air Base during Athens Flying Week. The aircraft went down about 3 nautical miles southeast of the base shortly after takeoff, according to Reuters. The Greek Air Force identified the pilots as Maj. Ioannis Blesias, 40, and Capt. Dimitrios Petrou, 37. The aircraft belonged to 338 Squadron. Sources associated with the event organizer told eKathimerini Sunday that the F-4 was conducting a transit ... read more
Volcanic Ash Shuts Seven Indonesian Airports
Seven Indonesian airports remained closed Monday after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau spread across the region over the weekend. The closures included Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and affected about 341,000 passengers through 2,961 canceled, delayed or diverted flights. Indonesia’s meteorological agency BMKG said ash was detected as high as 20,000 feet east of the volcano and 50,000 feet to the west. The agency issued 18 SIGMETs after the eruption began late Friday. Ash ... read more
Amazon 767 Overrun Kills Five in Miami
At least five people were killed and five others injured Sunday after a Boeing 767-300 freighter operating for Amazon Prime Air overran a runway at Miami International Airport, struck several vehicles and caught fire. According to the FAA statement, 21 Air Flight 7598 had arrived from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, when it overran the runway at about 2 p.m. local time. Aircraft Crossed Airport Perimeter The aircraft landed on Runway 30 and continued beyond ... read more
Pipistrel Velis Electro May Herald New Era of Flight Training
FLYING Magazine Around 2007, when I was heavily into flying radio-controlled aerobatic model airplanes, I outfitted a roughly 20-percent-scale Zlin Z-526 Akrobat model with an electric motor and six-cell lithium-polymer battery pack. I figured the newer batteries, unlike the nickel-cadmium cells I had experimented with for years, would provide enough power and endurance to complete the demanding aerobatic sequences typically featured at contests. I was also looking for a level of ... read more
This 2006 Robinson R44 Raven II Is a Utility-Ready ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2006 Robinson R44 Raven II. Widely recognized as one of the most adaptable civilian rotorcraft available, the Robinson R44 Raven II delivers an excellent combination of comfort, utility, and capability. Whether it is ... read more
Air Force Retires EC-130H Compass Call
FLYING Magazine The last remaining U.S. Air Force EC-130H Compass Call made its final flight this week alongside an EA-37B, the modified Gulfstream 550 that will replace it. Per a photo release Wednesday from the 355th Wing based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, the EC-130H and EA-73B flew in formation together for the first time. According to the 355th, EC-130H crews have flown over 76,000 combat hours over the past 20 years. Soon, it will join the Air Force’s already retired ... read more
Plane Seizure Case Heads to Supreme Court
An Alaska bush pilot is taking the state’s effort to forfeit his $95,000 Cessna to the Supreme Court. In a brief filed Thursday, Sept. 3, Kenneth Jouppi, 83, argued that forfeiting the aircraft over a misdemeanor involving beer intended for a dry village would violate the Eighth Amendment’s Excessive Fines Clause. The filing comes after the justices agreed July 20 to hear Jouppi v. Alaska, which asks whether courts must consider a defendant’s specific conduct when deciding if a forfeiture ... read more
New Data Puts Private Pilot Certificate At $18,257
A new analysis of published rates from 500 flight schools estimates that a private pilot certificate costs about $18,257 when training is completed in the typical 72 hours. The Sept. 3 PilotBound Flight Training Cost Report found a median trainer rental rate of $165 per hour and a median instructor rate of $69 per hour. Published Rates From 500 Schools PilotBound built the dataset from independent schools that publish complete rate information on their own websites. The company lists more ... read more
GAMA’s Latest Report Shows Strength in GA Shipments and Billings
FLYING Magazine Shipments and billings for general aviation airplanes and helicopters were up in the first six months of 2026 compared to the same period last year, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association’s (GAMA) latest report. Shipments and billings also rose from the first quarter of 2026 to the second quarter. According to GAMA, manufacturers shipped 1,458 airplanes from January through the end of June, compared to 1,433 for that stretch in 2025. That included 786 ... read more
This 1976 Beechcraft Bonanza V35B Is a Ready-to-Travel ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1976 Beechcraft V35B Bonanza. The V-tail Beechcraft Bonanza has been an object of pilots’ desire ever since its introduction in 1947. The aircraft’s sleek styling and speedy, efficient performance stood out when the ... read more
Boeing Quietly Paid $3.1M Fine Related to 2024 Door Plug Incident
FLYING Magazine Boeing paid the FAA about $3.1 million in civil penalties for safety violations, including issues related to the door plug blowout of a 737-9 Max aircraft operated by Alaska Airlines, Reuters was first to report this week. The FAA in September 2025 proposed fines against Boeing totaling $3,139,319 for violations that it said occurred from September 2023 through February 2024, including the January 2024 door plug incident, which resulted in no deaths or serious injuries. The ... read more
TSA Plans Closed-Door BVLOS Security Sessions
The Transportation Security Administration is seeking drone operators and industry representatives for a series of closed technical roundtables on security requirements for unmanned aircraft operating beyond visual line of sight, or BVLOS. According to a Friday TSA Federal Register notice, the meetings will be held after FAA and TSA publish final rules governing expanded BVLOS operations. Security Program Work TSA said the sessions will help it develop model approaches operators could use ... read more
Michigan Airport Adds GA Landing Fees
Manistee County/Blacker Airport in northern Michigan will begin charging visiting general aviation aircraft new airfield activity fees Oct. 1 following approval by the Manistee Blacker Airport Authority on Aug. 17. According to the airport’s FY2027 rates and charges schedule, aircraft weighing less than 6,000 pounds will pay $10, while aircraft from 6,000 pounds to less than 12,500 pounds will be charged $30. Fees Scale With Aircraft Weight The schedule sets fees at $75 for aircraft ... read more
Epic Flight Academy Adds Tecnam P2006Ts to Fleet
FLYING Magazine Epic Flight Academy (EPA), the largest Part 141 flight school in the United States, has acquired two Tecnam P2006T twin-engine aircraft to facilitate its multiengine training program. Founded in 1999 in Florida, EPA has flight schools in nine locations stretching from Florida to Colorado and a total of approximately 100 flight instructors to serve 600 students. According to school officials, the two new Tecnam twins will increase the academy’s multiengine training ... read more
Senators Press FAA Over Controller Pay Raise
Illinois Sens. Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin sent FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford a letter Friday urging him to approve the remaining 2.8% of a congressionally authorized pay increase for air traffic controllers. Congress set aside $140 million in April for a 3.8% raise, although controllers have so far received only the 1% increase given to federal government employees. The legislation made the additional increase contingent on Bedford determining that improvements have been achieved in ... read more
FAA Issues Lycoming Engine AD Over Defective Piston Pins
FLYING Magazine The FAA has issued an airworthiness directive for certain Lycoming O-235, O-540, and IO-540 aircraft engines due to defective piston pins that could cause engine failure. According to the agency, AD 2026-17-10 was prompted by multiple reports of piston pin failure resulting in metal particulate contamination of the engine oil and, in some cases, engine failure. The FAA received reports from Lycoming of metal particulates found in the engine oil during oil changes and two ... read more
Pilots Could Glimpse Archer’s eVTOL Air Taxi at California Airports
FLYING Magazine Electric vertical takeoff and landing air taxi manufacturer Archer Aviation said Thursday it will take its Midnight prototype out for a series of city-to-city demonstration flights beginning in Northern California. Archer said Midnight completed about 70 test flights in August. But the manufacturer’s upcoming “No Roads” tour will take those activities out of the sandbox and into the public eye. Earlier air taxi tours by competitors Joby Aviation and Beta Technologies saw ... read more
The Night the Moon Disappears for a Pilot
FLYING Magazine I am a 2,000-hour private pilot with an instrument rating and a tailwheel endorsement, but the night I nearly flew into a mountain, none of that experience mattered as much as a single blue button on my panel. Aviation has been in my blood since childhood. My father’s first job out of engineering school in 1966 was as a wind tunnel engineer working directly for Igor Sikorsky, designinghelicopters in Connecticut. This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine If ... read more
Business Jets, Turboprops Lift Q2 GA Shipments
General aviation aircraft shipments increased through the first six months of 2026, according to a Q2 manufacturing report released Thursday by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Manufacturers shipped 1,458 airplanes through the second quarter, up 1.7% from the same period last year, while airplane billings increased 15.5% to $14.3 billion. Business jet shipments rose 8.2% to 383 aircraft, while turboprop deliveries increased 7.8% to 289. Piston-airplane shipments declined ... read more
GAO Urges FAA Review Of A&P Testing Barrier
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has recommended that the FAA review whether students who complete aviation maintenance curricula at non-FAA-certificated high schools should be allowed to take the agency’s general written knowledge test. The GAO identified at least 43 such high school programs, in addition to FAA-certificated schools and other institutions that provide maintenance training to high school students. Testing Access The general exam is the first of three FAA ... read more
Study Finds Collegiate Pilots Neutral on UAS Autonomy
A peer-reviewed study published this week in Collegiate Aviation Review International found no statistically significant difference in collegiate pilots’ willingness to fly near unmanned aircraft based on whether the UAS were remotely piloted or fully autonomous. The study surveyed pilots at an FAA Part 141 flight school in southwest Michigan. Researchers presented participants with two hypothetical VFR flights in a G1000-equipped Cessna 172 under clear-weather conditions. Medium-to-large ... read more
DHS Secretary Lauds Pilots of Coast Guard C-37A After Emergency Landing
FLYING Magazine Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin praised the pilots of a nearly 25-year-old U.S. Coast Guard aircraft after they safely landed Mullin and about a dozen others at Reagan National Airport (KDCA) in Washington, D.C., following an engine loss on Wednesday. The Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA) said in a statement shared with FLYING that the aircraft—a Gulfstream V operating for the Coast Guard as C-37A with the call sign “Coast ... read more
After 2,000 E-Jet Deliveries, What’s Next for Embraer’s Popular Family?
FLYING Magazine Embraer on Wednesday said it delivered its 2,000th E-Jet to Brazil’s Azul Linhas Aéreas, marking a key milestone for the family of twin-engine narrowbodies as the manufacturer looks to expand its global reach. Azul, which Embraer described as a “key operator” of the family, took delivery of an E195-E2, the largest member of the second-generation E2 family. The aircraft features a special livery with the words “2,000th E-Jet” painted on the left side of the nose. Embraer ... read more
Boeing’s $3.1 Million FAA Fine Payment Went Undisclosed
Boeing paid the FAA’s full $3.1 million civil penalty in January after the agency cited the manufacturer for safety and production violations, according to new Reuters reporting. The payment, which had not previously been publicly disclosed, followed a penalty proposed by the FAA in September 2025. The FAA cited hundreds of quality-system violations at Boeing’s 737 factory in Renton, Washington, and Spirit AeroSystems’ 737 fuselage facility in Wichita, Kansas. The agency also identified ... read more
This 1962 Cessna 182E Skylane Is an Honest ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1962 Cessna 182E Skylane. Standing as one of general aviation’s most legendary workhorses, the Cessna 182 Skylane is revered for its stellar dispatch reliability and rugged capabilities. It strikes a rare balance in ... read more
FAA Proposes Easing Diabetes Medical Rules
The FAA on Thursday proposed changing its medical certification rules to allow pilots whose diabetes is controlled using non-insulin medications to potentially receive first-, second- or third-class medical certificates without going through the agency’s Special Issuance process. The proposed rule is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on Friday. AMEs Could Issue Certificates Under current regulations, diabetes that requires insulin or another hypoglycemic drug for control is ... read more
South African CAA Investigating 50-Foot Stadium Flyover
FLYING Magazine Two Embraer E-Jets operated by South African carrier Airlink passed within 50 feet of a crowded stadium during a flyover Saturday, drawing praise, scrutiny, and now an investigation by the country’s aviation regulator. The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) said Wednesday that it is investigating the flyby, which took place at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium ahead of a rugby match between the national teams of South Africa and New Zealand that was attended by more than ... read more
FAA Denies Hawaii Helicopter Operator’s Bid to Resume Ocean Jumps
The FAA has denied a Hawaii helicopter tour company’s request to resume a novel operation in which passengers jump from a hovering helicopter into the ocean for snorkeling and scuba excursions. According to HawaiiNewsNow, Trident Adventures had petitioned the agency for an exemption from federal passenger-restraint requirements, allowing customers to unbuckle while the helicopter hovered about 10 to 35 feet above the water. The company’s “helocast” operation had been suspended while the ... read more
WATCH: Regent Electric Seaglider Prototype Makes First Crewed Flight
FLYING Magazine Regent Craft said Wednesday that its prototype electric seaglider, Viceroy, made its first human-crewed flight. According to the Rhode Island-based manufacturer, Viceroy—which combines aspects of traditional aircraft and maritime vessels—is the largest all-electric, wing-in-ground effect (WIG) craft to fly with people on board. Regent said two captains took the prototype out on Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay. Categorized as a Type A WIG craft and defined as a maritime ... read more
FAA Deploys 100th Surface Surveillance System in ATC Modernization Push
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) installed its 100th Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI) system, reaching nearly half of the 220 airports targeted for the technology as the agency accelerates its air traffic control modernization effort. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the milestone Wednesday, saying the FAA has doubled the pace of SAI installations. The agency plans to add the system at another 44 airports before the end of 2026. SAI uses Automatic Dependent ... read more
Bird Strikes, Powerplant Failures Commonly Cited in Recent Business Aviation Safety Events
FLYING Magazine Bird strikes, powerplant failures, and collisions were among the most commonly cited occurrences for business aircraft accidents and incidents from April through June 2026, according to the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA). NBAA’s analysis of business aviation accidents and incidents for the three-month period, published Tuesday, examined 66 reportable events. Based on the data, the group listed wildlife-hazard awareness, proactive maintenance, thorough ... read more
NBAA: Powerplant Failures, Collisions Among Q2 Safety Concerns
Powerplant failures and collisions during takeoff and landing were among the leading safety concerns for business aviation during the second quarter of 2026, according to the latest analysis from the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA). NBAA’s review identified 66 reportable accidents and incidents involving turbine-powered business aircraft from April through June. The total included 24 accidents and 42 incidents. Six of the accidents were fatal, resulting in 22 ... read more
Florida Man Convicted of Smuggling $900K in Aircraft Parts to Russia
FLYING Magazine A 62-year-old Florida resident and Russian national accused of illegally exporting aircraft parts from the U.S. to his home country has been convicted on all counts. According to a media release from the FBI, Alexander Mamonov was convicted August 27 following a jury trial related to a scheme to illegally export aircraft parts from the U.S. to supply PJSC Aeroflot, the state-owned Russian airline. Mamonov was found guilty in the Southern District of Florida of 12 counts ... read more
Airline Pilot Hiring Up Nearly 40% At ATP
Airline pilot hiring among ATP Flight School graduates is running nearly 40 percent ahead of last year, with American Airlines leading the major-airline placements, according to new data released by the school. The flight school said 1,170 of its graduates have been hired by major and regional airlines over the past 12 months. The year-over-year comparison covers ATP graduates placed with legacy, major and national airlines from January through August. The hiring pace is also creating ... read more
TSB: Helicopters More Than Twice as Likely to Have Loss-of-Visual-Reference Accidents
Helicopters are more than twice as likely as airplanes to be involved in accidents involving a loss of visual reference, according to research by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB). The TSB says loss-of-visual-reference accidents accounted for 3.38% of helicopter accidents in Canada between 2000 and 2021, compared with 1.55% of airplane accidents. The disparity has continued in more recent data, according to the Board. The problem can develop without the kind of weather pilots ... read more
This 2025 Cirrus SR22T G7+ Is a Top-Tier ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2025 Cirrus SR22T G7+. Representing the pinnacle of modern single-engine piston innovation, the Cirrus SR22T G7+ continues the brand’s tradition of blending high-performance touring with ultimate safety. It stands ... read more
Why Are Airplane Clearing Turns Always Made to the Left?
FLYING Magazine Question: I have just started my flight training, and I have learned how to do a clearing turn. It makes sense to me to look around before you do a maneuver, but why is it always to the left? My CFI has me doing a 360-degree turn. I asked my CFI, and he said that’s how he learned it, so that’s how he’s teaching me. Is there more to it than that? Answer: I am sure your CFI did learn to make the clearing turn to the left. The 360-degree turn is a good choice, and there are ... read more
How Pilots Set Personal Minimums
FLYING Magazine What’s the difference between pilot limitations and personal minimums? I submit it’s the level of pilot certification. For the student pilot about to make their first solo flight, the CFI carefully records the weather limitations as part of the solo endorsement. These usually include references to the ceiling, visibility, and winds: “Visibility at least 3 miles and ceiling must be at least 2,500 feet for in pattern, visibility 5 miles and 4,000 feet for flight in the ... read more
GA Pilots, Prepare for More Traffic at Washington Manassas Airport
FLYING Magazine General aviation pilots flying into Virginia’s Washington Manassas Airport (KHEF) can soon expect thousands of commercial flights to share the airspace each year. Washington Manassas, renamed earlier this year from Manassas Regional Airport, is the busiest GA airport in Virginia, with more than 420 based aircraft and 100,000 annual operations. It is also a designated reliever for Washington Dulles International (KIAD). After the FAA awarded a Part 139 airport operating ... read more
Navy Seeks Carrier-Based Autonomous Combat Aircraft
The U.S. Navy issued a request for information Aug. 31 seeking industry proposals for its first increment of carrier-based Collaborative Combat Aircraft, autonomous uncrewed aircraft intended to operate alongside current and future carrier aircraft. The Navy wants two fully functional prototypes capable of meeting shore-based carrier certification requirements within three years of an agreement award. The aircraft must be compatible with Gerald R. Ford- and Nimitz-class carriers and ... read more
Boeing 737 MAX Victim-Fund Payments Set To Begin
Payments from a $444.5 million compensation fund established under Boeing’s 2025 agreement with the U.S. Justice Department are set to begin for beneficiaries of the 346 people killed in the Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 accidents. Chicago-based Ribbeck Law Chartered, which represents 93 clients connected to the two accidents, announced the start of payments Tuesday. Second Victim Fund Under Boeing’s 2025 non-prosecution agreement, the estate of each person killed ... read more
Otto to Build Fuel-Saving Bizjet Manufacturing Hub in 2028
FLYING Magazine Otto Aerospace in about two years plans to break ground on a manufacturing facility for its fuel-efficient, super-midsize Phantom 3500 business jet, according to an official with the Jacksonville Airport Authority (JAA) in Florida. The Jacksonville Daily Record reported that Tony Cugno, JAA’s chief operating officer, last week told a Jacksonville City Council committee that Otto will begin construction at Cecil Airport (KVQQ) in 2028. In 2025, Otto announced the relocation ... read more
Virginia’s Busiest GA Airport Cleared For Airline Service
The FAA granted Virginia’s Washington Manassas Airport a Part 139 Airport Operating Certificate Monday, allowing the field to accommodate certain commercial passenger airlines. The agency said it is the first Virginia airport to receive a new operating certificate in 53 years. “Commercial flights coming into Manassas will provide more economic growth within the community and create another commercial airport to service the Washington D.C. area,” FAA Associate Administrator for Airports Dan ... read more
FAA Proposes Unusual Airspace Restriction for Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Estate
FLYING Magazine The FAA has proposed the creation of a Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) near Donald J. Trump International Airport (KDJT, formerly Palm Beach International Airport), the agency told FLYING Tuesday. The rare restriction would join only a handful of SFRAs the FAA already maintains and add to limitations that are already in place at the president’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida. The regulator in October 2025 implemented a year-round Temporary Flight Restriction ... read more
Air Force Declares MH-139 Grey Wolf Operational
Air Force Global Strike Command announced Monday that the MH-139A Grey Wolf has achieved initial operational capability, clearing the helicopter for nuclear-security missions as the service continues replacing its UH-1N Huey fleet. The milestone took effect Aug. 10. Replacing The Huey The MH-139A is based on Leonardo’s commercial AW139 and is produced through a partnership between Leonardo and Boeing. Leonardo builds the helicopter in Philadelphia before transferring it to Boeing for ... read more
This 2021 Piper PA-28-181 Piper Pilot 100i Is a Training-Initiated ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2021 Piper PA-28-181 Piper Pilot 100i. Designed specifically to meet the rigorous demands of flight training while maintaining exceptional efficiency, the Piper Pilot 100i continues the celebrated PA-28 legacy. It ... read more
Otto Aerospace Sets 2028 Start For Jacksonville Factory
Otto Aerospace plans to begin construction of its Phantom 3500 manufacturing facility at Cecil Airport in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2028 and start aircraft production around 2030, Jacksonville Aviation Authority Chief Operating Officer Tony Cugno told a City Council committee Thursday. The city also issued a $12.1 million permit Friday to renovate an existing 59,000-square-foot hangar at Cecil for research and development work, according to the Jacksonville Daily Record. The facility will ... read more
U.S. Aircraft LLCs Get Relief From Federal Reporting Requirements
FLYING Magazine A new rule finalized this month by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) grants relief to domestic aircraft LLCs that were previously required to report beneficial ownership information to the federal government. The rule, which took effect August 14, “clarifies and slightly narrows the scope of companies required to report beneficial ownership information” under the 2021 Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), the National Business Aviation ... read more
Tacoma Narrows’ Airport Day Inspires Next Generation of Aviators
FLYING Magazine Do you remember the first time someone took you to the airport and you had a chance to get up close with a small airplane? I do. I was 4 years old. It was a J-3 Cub owned by a man my father worked with. There was a celebration at the airport, and owners were allowing kids to get into the cockpits of their airplanes. The memory of that day surfaces for me every time I see a Piper Cub on display at an airport, such as the 1946 model on display at Tacoma Narrows Airport (KTIW) ... read more
5 GA Aircraft Intercepted for Violating Presidential TFR
FLYING Magazine The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) scrambled F-16 fighter jets to intercept five “general aviation aircraft” that it said violated a temporary flight restriction (TFR) in Houston while President Donald Trump was in town. NORAD said the fighters on Friday morning safely escorted the aircraft out of the restricted area. Trump visited Houston Thursday and Friday to attend a reception and award medals to NASA’s Artemis II astronauts, who earlier this year flew ... read more
Treasury Ends Reporting Requirement For U.S. Aircraft LLCs
The U.S. Treasury Department has finalized a rule eliminating beneficial-ownership reporting requirements for U.S. companies, including many LLCs and other entities used to own aircraft. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network rule took effect Aug. 14 under the Corporate Transparency Act. The law had required covered companies to provide FinCEN information on their beneficial owners, including names, dates of birth and addresses. The requirements applied to many aircraft-owning LLCs, a ... read more
Blackhawk Gives Legacy Turboprops a Second Act at Oshkosh 2026
FLYING Magazine Every summer, the grounds at Wittman Regional Airport (OSH) are abuzz with all things general aviation. EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin has become an annual fixture for Blackhawk. This year, the turboprop upgrade specialist was situated in one of the show’s most trafficked corners, within sight of Boeing on one side and Garmin on the other. There, the company rolled out two airplanes which demonstrate that an older airframe, given a modern engine, can still hold ... read more
Driver Breaches Airport Fence, Hits Parked Aircraft
A 17-year-old driver fleeing an attempted traffic stop crashed through a perimeter fence at Portsmouth International Airport in New Hampshire and struck a parked aircraft Saturday night. No injuries other than the driver were reported. Mustang Enters Airport Shortly after 8 p.m., a trooper attempted to stop a black 2008 Ford Mustang while searching for a vehicle connected to reported crimes in other jurisdictions. Police said the driver fled and approached the airport. “The Mustang, which ... read more
Jets Fly Less Than 50 Feet Over Crowded Stadium, Sparking Online Debate
FLYING Magazine Reactions to a viral low flyover at DHL Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, on Saturday—which the airline responsible for the stunt said was conducted with approval from the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA)—have ranged from praise to condemnation. Videos shared by attendees of the match between South Africa’s Springboks, the country’s national rugby team, and the All Blacks, represented by New Zealand, collectively garnered millions of views after being ... read more
NTSB Vice Chair Announces Retirement
FLYING Magazine National Transportation Safety Board Vice Chairman Michael Graham announced Friday that he will retire effective October 2. A former F/A-18 pilot and top safety official for Textron Aviation, Graham has served on the NTSB board since 2020. NTSB board members are presidential appointees confirmed by the U.S. Senate. “Mike’s integrity, hard work, and passion for safety made him an incredible asset to the NTSB, and I am deeply grateful for his service,” said NTSB Chair ... read more
JetZero Adds $100 Million To Push All-Wing Demonstrator Toward Flight
JetZero announced Monday that it has secured up to $100 million in new financing to advance construction of its full-scale Jet1 demonstrator and related manufacturing work. Jet1 is being built by Scaled Composites in Mojave, California, and will serve as the piloted test aircraft for JetZero’s unconventional all-wing configuration. Jet1 Toward Flight Ahead of the full-scale demonstrator, JetZero’s Pathfinder flight-test program has flown five generations of scaled aircraft across more than ... read more
First Turkish Air Force Hürjet Makes Maiden Flight
The first Hürjet intended for delivery to the Turkish Air Force completed its maiden flight Sunday, Aug. 30, following ground and taxi testing. The Turkish Aerospace-built aircraft remained airborne for 18 minutes and was accompanied by one of the program’s development prototypes. Hürjet is a single-engine, tandem-seat advanced jet trainer developed to replace the Turkish Air Force’s T-38 trainers and F-5 aircraft used for aerobatic demonstrations. Turkish Aerospace lists a maximum speed ... read more
Airlink Defends Low Stadium Flyover
South African regional carrier Airlink has defended a low-altitude formation flyover conducted Saturday over Cape Town’s DHL Stadium before a rugby match between South Africa and New Zealand. The flyover used an Embraer E195 and E190 painted in the teams’ colors and followed a similar Airlink formation pass over Ellis Park in Johannesburg one week earlier. The airline said the South African Civil Aviation Authority and Air Traffic Navigation Services provided guidance and approval for the ... read more
This 1998 Beechcraft Baron 58 Is a Fully Equipped ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1998 Beechcraft Baron 58. Long regarded as a premier twin-engine piston aircraft, the Beechcraft Baron 58 offers an impressive combination of speed, heavy-hauling payload, and passenger comfort. Its reputation as a ... read more
Are U.S. Airports Ready for Electric Atmosphere?
FLYING Magazine The first advanced air mobility (AAM) operations in the U.S. may be closer than you think. The industry could be within a few years from seeing its first certified electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Some of the manufacturers believed by industry observers to be the furthest along in the certification process include Archer Aviation, Beta Technologies, and Joby Aviation. Upon certification, the proposed new aircraft model entrants are poised to support ... read more
Electric and Autonomous Aircraft Trials Set to Begin in Louisiana
FLYING Magazine The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) said Thursday that it and its partners officially launched LIFTOff Louisiana—one of eight projects comprising demonstrations of electric, autonomous, and other novel, precertified aircraft being overseen by the FAA. LIFTOff is the latest component of the agency’s eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) to get underway. It will span at least three years and aim to provide ... read more
NTSB Releases New Details on Fatal Philadelphia Learjet Crash
FLYING Magazine The National Transportation Safety Board has released the docket on the 2025 fatal air ambulance crash in northeast Philadelphia, containing several hundred pages of new information, analysis, and photographs gathered as part of its ongoing investigation. The accident flight was operated by Med Jets, doing business as Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, an international aeromedical long-distance transport provider based in Toluca near Mexico City. Per the NTSB, Jet Rescue Air ... read more
Trump Orders Plan For U.S. Space Academy
President Donald Trump signed an order Friday creating a presidential commission to design a proposed U.S. Space Academy. The NASA-led federal academy would train students for careers across military, civil and commercial space programs. Commission Gets 120 Days NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman will chair the commission, while NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson will serve as executive director. The group has 120 days to recommend a governance structure, academic curriculum, applicant ... read more
NTSB Vice Chairman Graham Retiring
National Transportation Safety Board Vice Chairman Michael Graham announced Friday that he will retire Oct. 2, little more than three months after the Senate confirmed him to another five-year term on the board. The Senate confirmed Graham on May 18 to a term expiring Dec. 31, 2030. His retirement also comes less than six months after President Donald Trump designated him NTSB vice chairman for a three-year term. Friday’s announcement did not give a reason for the timing of his ... read more
This 2022 Tecnam P2010 TDI Is a Swift, Premium ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2022 Tecnam P2010 TDI. When Tecnam unveiled the P2010 at the 2011 AERO Friedrichschafen show, observers quickly pegged it as a modernized Cessna 172 Skyhawk. Yes, it has a high, strut-braced wing and four seats in ... read more
Gripen F Makes First Flight
Saab’s two-seat Gripen F made its first flight Friday, beginning the airborne test campaign for the Gripen E-derived fighter. The aircraft departed Saab’s airfield in Linköping, Sweden, at 9:40 a.m. local time and remained airborne for 40 minutes. 40-Minute First Flight Saab chief test pilot Jakob Högberg and Brazilian Air Force test pilot Lt. Col. Abdon de Rezende Vasconcelos conducted the flight. According to Saab, the crew used the initial sortie to verify the aircraft’s primary systems ... read more
Cast Your Vote to Name Virgin Galactic’s Next Spaceplane
FLYING Magazine Virgin Galactic on Friday extended the deadline for the public to name one of its next-generation spaceplanes, giving space enthusiasts until Thursday to cast their votes. Virgin Galactic, which offers suborbital expeditions for paying customers, launched its first commercial mission in June 2023 and has not flown one since ’24, when it retired its earlier SpaceShipTwo-class spaceplane, VSS Unity. The company is now building two “Delta-class” vehicles and will allow the ... read more
How New FAA Program Plans to Tackle Increased Drone Integration
FLYING Magazine The FAA is launching a new program that could see small uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), or drones, integrated at greater scale. The agency Thursday announced it will select eight new state, local, tribal or territorial government participants to launch the second phase of its BEYOND program, which aims to safely increase drone operations in the National Airspace System (NAS). Phase 1 began in 2020 and ended last year. In remarks accompanying the announcement, FAA ... read more
FAA Proposes Special Conditions For Skyryse Fly-By-Wire R66
The FAA on Friday proposed special certification conditions for Skyryse’s SkyOS flight-control system, a fly-by-wire platform being installed in the Robinson R66. Skyryse’s R66-based Skyryse One replaces the helicopter’s conventional controls with a single control stick, touchscreens and software-controlled flight systems designed to manage many functions normally handled directly by the pilot. FAA Focuses On Control-Limit Awareness The FAA proposal centers on how pilots will recognize ... read more
Report: ATC Staffing Levels Scrutinized in LaGuardia Collision Investigation
FLYING Magazine The investigation into the ground collision between an airport fire truck and a regional jet at New York’s LaGuardia Airport (KLGA) in March is looking at the possibility that two air traffic controllers in the tower left work early that night. According to a Wall Street Journal report on Thursday, a source close to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation has found the controllers have been placed on unpaid leave. The accident, which took place March ... read more
EAA’s CEO Named to Corporate Angel Network Board
FLYING Magazine The Corporate Angel Network (CAN), a nonprofit organization that arranges free flights on corporate aircraft for cancer patients traveling to treatment facilities, has announced that Jack Pelton has joined its board of directors. Pelton brings decades of aviation leadership to the volunteer position. He serves as chairman and CEO of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and previously occupied the position of chairman, president and CEO of Cessna from November 2000 to ... read more
Louisiana Launches AAM Test Program
Louisiana transportation officials on Thursday launched an advanced air mobility (AAM) test program at Houma-Terrebonne Airport, where emerging aircraft will eventually operate alongside the airport’s existing helicopter and fixed-wing traffic. The LIFTOff Louisiana initiative is intended to provide the FAA with operational data as it develops standards for integrating new aircraft into the National Airspace System. Testing At A Working Airport Houma-Terrebonne is a major hub for offshore ... read more
Ex-Spirit Pilots Receive Help Getting Their Logbooks in Order
FLYING Magazine Former Spirit pilots left out of work by the discount carrier’s sudden collapse earlier this year are receiving some help with a critical part of the job search—getting their logbooks in order. AIROS, which assists aviators in consolidating and checking their records through a cloud-based digital logbook, decided in May that it would make its service free for ex-Spirit pilots. “We knew we had to do something, and we knew that whatever we did, out-of-work pilots weren’t ... read more
Exploring the Corner Case Approach for a Pilot
FLYING Magazine LNAV/VNAV minimums are a bit of a mystery to most U.S. pilots. That’s probably because they’re rarely encountered, except at the relatively few airports with RNAV (GPS) approaches that have LNAV/VNAV minimums but no LPV minimums. However, as will be explained, I encountered them while flying an approach with LPV minimums when the satellite signal quality was insufficient to support LPV minimums. This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine If you're not already ... read more
Radio Problems Preceded Marine One-DCA Incident
Communication problems between Marine One and air traffic control preceded an Aug. 4 incident involving the presidential helicopter and a departing Envoy Air Embraer E170 near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, according to an NTSB preliminary report released Thursday. The FAA estimated the aircraft came within 0.82 nautical miles laterally and 700 feet vertically, although the NTSB said that distance met the applicable Class B radar-separation standard. DCA tower officials and ... read more
Garmin Expands SmartCharts To Canada And Mexico
Garmin on Wednesday expanded SmartCharts availability to Garmin Pilot Premium users in Canada and Mexico on Garmin Pilot Web and Apple mobile devices. The charting feature, first announced in May 2025, was initially available in the United States and the Bahamas. SmartCharts allows pilots to select items such as aircraft type, runway and procedure transition to narrow the information displayed on SIDs, STARs and approach charts. The resulting chart shows the routing, fixes and crossing ... read more
Piper PA-24 Crashes Off Alaska Coast, Killing 4
FLYING Magazine A Piper PA-24-260 Comanche crashed off the coast of Alaska on Wednesday, killing all four occupants, according to officials. Per a news release from state troopers with the Alaska Department of Public Safety, the small airplane departed Merrill Field Airport (PAMR) in Anchorage and was bound for the community of Seldovia, located about 136 miles southwest of Anchorage on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula. A preliminary investigation determined that the aircraft submerged completely ... read more
FAA Moves To Fire LaGuardia Controllers
The FAA is moving to fire two air traffic controllers who left their shifts early at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on the night of the March 22 collision between an Air Canada Express regional jet and an airport fire truck. The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that the FAA determined the controllers departed about an hour before their shifts ended. CBS News reported that, according to an unnamed source, the FAA considers the alleged conduct timecard fraud. Two Controllers Remained The ... read more
Atlantic Aviation Valued Close to $10B With Private Equity Injection
FLYING Magazine Apollo Global Management said Thursday that its managed funds have taken a “significant interest” in Atlantic Aviation, which operates one of the world’s largest FBO networks. Apollo said the deal values Atlantic at nearly $10 billion. Atlantic offers fueling, maintenance, deicing, hangar leasing, and concierge services for private aircraft out of more than 100 North American locations. The company also seeks to accommodate future aircraft, including electric vertical ... read more
A Look at the First ‘Context-Aware’ Avionics Platform for GA
FLYING Magazine With jets roaring somewhere overhead, FLYING staff visited Airhart Aeronautics’ booth at this year’s EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Four years and two hardware generations after the company began, Airhart president Nate Thuli was there to discuss what he describes as a fundamentally different starting assumption about how a general aviation cockpit should work. Airhart has been building toward this moment since it emerged from Long Beach, California, with a ... read more
Cirrus Backlog Tops 1,000 Aircraft
Cirrus Aircraft said Wednesday its order backlog remains above 1,000 airplanes after the manufacturer reported higher deliveries and revenue for the first half of 2026. Cirrus delivered 405 aircraft during the six-month period, up 16% from 350 a year earlier. Revenue increased 24% to $737 million from $594 million. Orders Keep Pace With Deliveries Orders and reservations reached 398 aircraft during the first half, compared to 241 during the same period in 2025. The company reported a ... read more
Garmin Brings SmartCharts Coverage to Canada and Mexico
FLYING Magazine Garmin is expanding its reach of SmartCharts for Garmin Pilot Premium users in Canada and Mexico who utilize both web and Apple mobile platforms. SmartCharts are a digital charting option that puts flight-critical information at a pilot’s finger tips. Introduced in May of last year, SmartCharts optimize pilot workflow by providing only relevant data. Users can select specific aircraft type, arrival/departure/approach transition fix, and other pertinent information that ... read more
Electra, Finland’s Capital to Study Off-Airport ‘Access Points’ Bound for U.S.
FLYING Magazine Hybrid-electric “ultra short” aircraft developer Electra in July partnered with FBO Signature Aviation to explore “access points” for its flagship EL9, which is designed for takeoff and landing with only 150 feet of ground roll. Now, the manufacturer is working with Finland’s capital to study the same infrastructure it plans to deploy across the U.S. According to Electra, EL9 access points could be installed at nonairport locations, including rooftops, parking lots, fields, ... read more
What Pilots Often Miss When Reviewing Their Benefits
FLYING Magazine Open enrollment rolls around every fall, and it’s usually accompanied by a stack of PDFs and deadlines. A lot of pilots handle the process as quickly as they can, re-electing the same plan and same coverage levels as last year simply because that’s what’s already there. That’s the habit Allworth Airline Advisors set out to interrupt in their recent webinar, “The Open Enrollment Hot Seat.” Rutledge Gordon, CRPC, VP of Advisors at Allworth Financial, hosted ... read more
Boeing Posts Contractor Jobs As Labor Dispute Escalates
Boeing has begun posting contractor positions for engineering and technical jobs as the company prepares for a possible strike involving about 17,000 unionized workers. Reuters reported that the openings appeared Tuesday, several days after members of the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) rejected Boeing’s proposed four-year contract. The current agreement expires Oct. 6. “We want to reach an agreement before the current contract expires and look forward to ... read more
This 1986 SOCATA TB-21 Trinidad Is an Invested ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1986 SOCATA TB-21 Trinidad. Widely recognized for its striking European design and expansive gull-wing doors, this turbocharged SOCATA TB-21 Trinidad stands out in the single-engine piston market for its ... read more
Dolly Parton International: State Rep Supports Bill Renaming Nashville Airport
FLYING Magazine A Tennessee state representative appears to have lent support for renaming Nashville International Airport (KBNA) after country singer Dolly Parton, who died at age 80 in Music City on Tuesday. A petition started by two Nashville residents in early 2025 to rename Nashville International after Parton had only a few thousand supporters earlier this week. Following Parton’s death, the petition has spiked to more than 90,000 signatures as of Wednesday. The petition is hosted by ... read more
Autonomous Aircraft Vertiport Coming to California’s Hollister Municipal
FLYING Magazine Hollister Municipal Airport (KCVH) in California could be among the first in the nation to receive a vertiport for autonomous and eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft. Autonomous air taxi developer Wisk Aero, which Boeing earlier this month agreed to sell to eVTOL manufacturer Archer Aviation, said Wednesday that it broke ground on the vertiport at Hollister, where the company already conducts flight testing. Wisk said the new 100-feet-by-100-feet site ... read more
New Maryland Plant To Build Equipment For FAA’s Air Traffic Control Overhaul
The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) effort to replace aging air traffic control infrastructure is moving into another phase with the opening of a new manufacturing facility in Maryland. On Tuesday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford marked the opening of an 87,000-square-foot plant in Frederick, Maryland, operated by Rohde & Schwarz USA. The $40 million facility will manufacture digital Voice over IP (VoIP) voice switches for the FAA’s new ... read more
Teton Civil Air Patrol Squadron Deactivated, Cessna 206 Reassigned
A Civil Air Patrol squadron in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, has been deactivated following months of disagreement between its local leadership and the Wyoming Wing, taking with it a Cessna 206 that had supported search-and-rescue and emergency operations in the area for decades. According to a Jackson Hole News & Guide report, The Teton Squadron’s former commander, Steve Foster, told the Teton County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 17 that the squadron had effectively been dissolved and that ... read more
New Facility Could Help FAA Address ATC Staffing Woes
FLYING Magazine The FAA’s chronic air traffic controller (ATC) shortage is well documented despite the agency’s efforts to ramp up hiring. A $40 million, 87,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Frederick, Maryland, could help it reallocate those sparse resources where they are needed most. The FAA on Tuesday announced the groundbreaking of the new facility, which will build digital, internet-based voice switch systems designed to help controllers better communicate with pilots and other ... read more
This 2019 Cessna T206H Is an All-Weather ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2019 Cessna T206H. Often celebrated as the ultimate heavy hauler for private pilots, the Cessna T206H Turbo Stationair HD offers an unparalleled mix of rugged utility and passenger comfort. It has cemented its legacy ... read more
Aging GA Fleet Faces Growing Aircraft Parts Challenge
Keeping older general aviation aircraft flying is becoming an increasingly difficult and expensive job as many professionals expect aircraft parts availability to get worse. A new survey from TBX found that 66% of maintenance professionals expect the general aviation parts supply situation to deteriorate in the near future. The 2026 General Aviation Parts Survey collected responses from mechanics, shop owners, directors of maintenance and other aviation maintenance professionals. The ... read more
RAF Urges Pilots To Support 10 Utah Backcountry Airstrips
The Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) is urging pilots to submit comments supporting continued recreational access to 10 backcountry airstrips in southeastern Utah. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is accepting public comments through Sept. 3 on a draft environmental assessment covering the airstrips in southeastern Utah. The RAF says individual pilot comments could help determine whether the sites are formally designated for aircraft use. The RAF is asking pilots to explain in ... read more
Embry-Riddle Worldwide Celebrates 100,000th Graduate Milestone
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Worldwide Campus has reached a milestone of 100,000 graduates, the university announced in an Aug. 24 press release. Jonnathan Munoz Cisneros was recognized as its 100,000th Worldwide graduate during a commencement ceremony Aug. 9 aboard the USS Midway Museum in San Diego. Nearly 300 students participated in the ceremony on the historic aircraft carrier’s flight deck. Munoz Cisneros earned a Bachelor of Science in Technical Management while working as ... read more
Cirrus SR22 Pilot Survives In-Flight Fire After Deploying Parachute in Brazil
FLYING Magazine The pilot of a Cirrus SR22 in Serra Azul, Brazil, survived an in-flight fire resulting in a parachute activation Tuesday, according to early media reports. The 29-year-old man was treated for smoke inhalation but suffered no other injuries.. Video of the event shows the engine compartment of the Cirrus in flames and smoke billowing from the aircraft as it descends under the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS). The aircraft touched down in a field, and the pilot was able ... read more
How Long Does It Take to Get the CFII?
FLYING Magazine Question: I just got my CFI ticket, airplane, single-engine land, and I am having trouble finding a job because the flight schools prefer to hire instructors who also have the CFII. How long does it take to get the CFII? What do I have to know? Answer: Of all the instructor ratings, the CFI-Instrument (CFII) is the easiest to get in part because it is an add-on if you already hold a CFI rating. To be an instrument instructor you need to be able to teach the approaches and ... read more
Close Calls Can Provide Pilots With Clear Lessons
FLYING Magazine Near-midair encounters occupy a peculiar place in aviation. They are not common events, but they are not rare either. Ask almost any experienced pilot and you will eventually hear a story about another aircraft appearing suddenly, far closer than anyone would prefer. General aviation operates in a system built largely on shared responsibility. Unlike tightly controlled airline corridors or military formations, much of the GA environment depends on pilots seeing each other, ... read more
The 100R Avgas Transition to Unleaded
FLYING Magazine Every summer, the ramps and campgrounds of Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) fill with the same question in a hundred different forms: When will unleaded fuel actually work in my airplane? This year at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, Swift Fuels arrived with an answer that was bigger than almost anyone expected. Just days before the show opened, the FAA published an expanded approved model list under Swift’s existing supplemental type certificate for 100R, its 100-octane ... read more
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Phaseout Could Have Ripple Effect for Pilots
FLYING Magazine SpaceX has signaled that it will one day phase out its workhorse Falcon 9 launch vehicle for the company’s much larger Starship rocket, a move that carries major implications for other users of the National Airspace System (NAS). SpaceX CEO Elon Musk wrote Sunday on social media that once Starship—the largest rocket ever built—is “flying reliably several times per week,” it “makes sense” to allocate resources to the gargantuan spacecraft. That, Musk said, would mean ... read more
AIR Adds Elmo Drives To Heavy-Lift Cargo UAS
Electric aircraft developer AIR announced Tuesday that it has partnered with Elmo Motion Control to supply motor-control hardware for its Heavy Lift UAS, an uncrewed VTOL cargo aircraft designed to carry payloads of up to 550 pounds. Elmo’s Gold HV motor drives will control the aircraft’s eight electric propulsion motors. Air-Cooled Propulsion According to the companies, the drive system can operate using air cooling and does not require a liquid-cooling system. Elmo said its Gold and ... read more
Phenom 300EV Earns Triple Certification
Embraer’s Phenom 300EV has received certification from the FAA, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Brazil’s Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC), the manufacturer announced Tuesday. Embraer says the approvals make the aircraft the first light jet certified with Garmin Emergency Autoland. The system can activate automatically if it detects that the pilot is unable to fly or can be activated manually by a passenger. Garmin Emergency Autoland can select an airport and ... read more
SpaceX Plans 10-Pad Louisiana Launch Site
SpaceX announced Tuesday that it plans to build a new launch facility in Louisiana’s Vermilion Parish that is expected to include 10 launch pads at full buildout. The company plans to invest $100 billion in the project, according to Louisiana Economic Development. The site, called Starbase, Louisiana, will consist of five launch complexes containing two pads each. Plans also call for propellant production, power generation, vehicle processing facilities and employee housing. SpaceX says ... read more
FAA Accepts HIMS Reform Petition For Review
The FAA has accepted a petition from Pilots for HIMS Reform for review that seeks changes to the agency’s Human Intervention Motivation Study (HIMS) program and other areas of aeromedical certification. The agency assigned the Aug. 20 petition Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2026-10399. The proposal covers HIMS monitoring, special issuance certification, substance-related and psychiatric reviews, independent medical evaluations and deadlines for FAA decisions. Changes Sought HIMS originated in ... read more
Embraer’s Autoland-Equipped Phenom 300EV Obtains Triple Certification
FLYING Magazine Embraer on Tuesday said its Phenom 300EV, billed as an “evolution” of the best-selling light jet series, received triple certification from the FAA, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and Brazil’s Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC). The manufacturer said the milestone—achieved just over one month after it announced the model—cements the 300EV as the first light jet and largest business jet certified with Garmin Emergency Autoland. Embraer reiterated the ... read more
How Lightspeed’s Award-Winning Headsets Stay Ahead of the Cockpit
FLYING Magazine Every July, Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) becomes the one place on Earth where a pilot can compare notes on carbon monoxide alarms, Bluetooth pairing, and ear-seal foam density all in the same five-minute conversation. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 is a great opportunity for pros around the industry to get together and see what’s new. This year, Jonathan Welsh from The Aviation Consumer had the opportunity to catch up with Eric Landry, head of marketing for Lightspeed ... read more
FAA Seeks Input on ‘Priority Airspace’ for Space Launches
The FAA on Tuesday opened a 60-day request for public and industry input on how “priority airspace” for critical space launch corridors should work. The concept was directed under the 2026 National Space Transportation Policy, but the agency has not established an operational definition for the corridors or determined what types of launches would qualify for priority treatment. Defining the Corridors Launch operators currently work with the FAA to establish Aircraft Hazard Areas, or AHAs, ... read more
Eyes in the Sky: How Pilots Assist ATC During Fire Season
FLYING Magazine Have you ever been flying and had the control tower or ATC ask if you see a fire or oil slick, ask you to check for an ELT signal in a certain area, or ask if you have seen a downed aircraft? When those types of questions are asked, someone is having—or is about to have—a very bad day. It definitely gets your attention. If you get a request like this and you have the ability to comply, please do so. The controller may even ask you to orbit over the area until they can get ... read more
This 1964 Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee Cruiser Is a Reliable ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1964 Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee Cruiser. The PA-28-140 model specifically built a reputation as a steadfast platform for flight schools and private owners alike, offering stable handling characteristics and ... read more
Olympic Air Taxi Strategy Takes Shape With Planned LA Vertiport
FLYING Magazine Electric air taxi manufacturer Archer Aviation’s plans to ferry spectators and athletes across the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles are beginning to take shape. Archer this week revealed it partnered with entertainment company AEG to build what the manufacturer said is the first vertiport announced for downtown LA. Vertiports, which are being developed nationwide, are expected to resemble heliports with additional amenities for electric aircraft such as Archer’s Midnight, ... read more
Textron Aviation Appoints New CEO Ahead of Planned Restructuring
FLYING Magazine Textron Aviation is shaking up its leadership ahead of its parent company’s planned restructuring of its businesses. Textron on Monday said it appointed Brian Rohloff as president and CEO of Textron Aviation, which confirmed that Rohloff’s predecessor, Ron Draper, plans to retire. The leadership change is expected to take effect August 31, putting Rohloff in charge of marquee general aviation brands, including Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, and Lycoming. Textron said ... read more
SyberJet Claims Transcontinental Speed Record Ahead of SJ36 Debut
FLYING Magazine Arizona-based SyberJet has made an unofficial claim for the East-to-West transcontinental speed record in the C-1.f aircraft class as the manufacturer mounts a comeback. SyberJet said Friday in a news release that its SJ30-2 flew nonstop from Jacksonville International Airport (KJAX) in Florida to Brown Field Municipal Airport (KSDM) in San Diego, logging an average speed of 505.3 mph. The company said the light business jet—for which production ceased in 2009—made the ... read more
World Aerobatic Championship Begins In Iowa
The 33rd FAI World Aerobatic Championship begins competition today at Mason City Municipal Airport in Iowa. More than 35 pilots from eight countries are expected to compete for individual and team titles through Sept. 2. Competitors represent France, Spain, Romania, Canada, Guatemala, Portugal, Brazil and the U.S. Competition Begins “We’re prepared, I’m feeling good,” U.S. team pilot Goody Thomas told local KTTC. “We’re ready to get going.” Thomas said competitors have spent years ... read more
Ascend Flight Training Summit Aims to Transform Pilot and Instructor Education
FLYING Magazine It is a given that most pilots who aspire to a job at the airlines build their flight experience as certificated flight instructors. Working as a CFI is seen as a stepping stone, and over the past 10 years that has created a culture where pilots acquire hours but not so much knowledge and skill. The Ascend Flight Training Summit, a joint venture between AeroSummit and the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) on September 8-10 in Dallas, seeks to change ... read more
Merlin Gains New Zealand Design Authority
Autonomous flight developer Merlin said Monday it has received a Part 146 Aircraft Design Organization certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand, giving qualified company engineers authority to approve certain aircraft design changes. The company previously had to route those approvals through outside design organizations. Part 146 Authority Under New Zealand’s Part 146 rules, certificated aircraft design organizations can develop approved designs and employ qualified ... read more
This 2006 Cirrus SR22 G2 Is an STC-Upgraded ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2006 Cirrus SR22 G2. Renowned for its sports-sedan comfort and impressive cross-country speeds, the Cirrus SR22 series completely upended the modern single-engine-piston market by combining composite construction, ... read more
Broken Arrow Studies New General Aviation Airport
The city of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, is seeking a consulting firm to study the feasibility of building a new general aviation airport. The city issued a request for qualifications in July, and responses are due Aug. 27. The proposal calls for an analysis of aviation demand, operational needs, economic impact and regulatory requirements. Airport Demand The study would also evaluate potential areas for an airport, environmental considerations and possible federal grant funding. No specific ... read more
Archer, AEG Plan Downtown Los Angeles Vertiport
Archer Aviation and sports and entertainment company AEG announced Monday that they plan to develop a vertiport at L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles. The companies entered an exclusive multiyear partnership that would make Archer the air taxi provider for the entertainment district, which sits next to Crypto.com Arena and the Los Angeles Convention Center. “We are thrilled to pursue this endeavor with Archer to enhance the fan experience around the major sports and live-entertainment ... read more
New Era Awaits for Advanced Air Mobility
FLYING Magazine Advanced air mobility (AAM) has become a popular buzzword in aviation circles. The FAA is developing regulations for it. Airports and airlines are preparing for it. But what exactly is AAM, and what will it mean for pilots? AAM broadly covers any novel aircraft, airframe, or propulsion technology. That includes electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVOTL) air taxis, small cargo drones, and aircraft that fly with little to no pilot input, using complex arrays of cameras and ... read more
Legacy vs. New-Build Under MOSAIC Phase 2
FLYING Magazine BROUGHT TO YOU BY FLYING FINANCE Phase 2 of MOSAIC took effect July 24, and most coverage has centered on what pilots are now allowed to fly. Now that the rule has gone fully propulsion-agnostic, there are a lot of parameters that broaden the scope of the discussion for light sport aircraft (LSA). What’s received less attention, now that the rule is live rather than pending, is the cost of getting into various compliant aircraft. MOSAIC Phase 2 formalizes two distinct ... read more
FAA Awards $615 Million For Airport Projects
The FAA announced Thursday that nearly $615 million has been awarded for 238 airport projects across 42 states and two U.S. territories. The funding comes through the agency’s Airport Improvement Program and will support runway, taxiway, terminal, tower and other airfield projects. Projects Reach Smaller Airports Among the largest individual awards are $21.5 million for runway rehabilitation at Midland International Air & Space Port in Texas and $19.5 million to construct a replacement ... read more
FAA Flags 3D Printed Cockpit Accessories As Unapproved Parts
The FAA issued an Unapproved Parts Notification Tuesday covering 3D printed aircraft accessories produced and sold by Michael Graham, doing business as MadeByMike3D. The agency said Graham sold the articles between May 2024 and August 2025 for installation on type-certificated aircraft without FAA approval or authorization. The list consists primarily of cockpit and interior accessories, including cup holders for Beechcraft Bonanza, Debonair and Grumman aircraft, headset holders, ... read more
8 Killed in Charter Plane Crash in Alaska
FLYING Magazine Authorities in Alaska are investigating the crash of a chartered aircraft in a remote part of the state that killed all eight people on board. The aircraft, a Cessna 441, was chartered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for travel to Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site Airport, approximately 450 miles west of Anchorage. The twin-engine Cessna had two pilots and was carrying six passengers. The military described the aircraft as a “civilian contracted aircraft.” The crash ... read more
+[Me]
FLYING Magazine One thing I learned in banking that persists today is how to catch up quickly. In banking, I had clients who would call me with an idea already baked the night before, and maybe even with a Letter of Intent (LOI) already struck. My job: get up to speed quickly and make sure that deal was structured to not just close but benefit the owner for years to come. Today, my job is similar. I receive an email that simply says “+[me]”, and whether it is real estate, a business, or ... read more
NTSB Releases Preliminary Report on Otter Crash
FLYING Magazine The pilot of the de Havilland DHC-3 Otter floatplane that crashed last month in Washington state was trying to avoid inclement weather, according to a preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The accident took place on July 23, around 5:20 p.m. local time near Eastsound. The aircraft, N709KA, was substantially damaged and the pilot and two passengers were seriously injured. Eight passengers sustained minor injuries in the crash. The ... read more
Tillamook Air Museum Sets Stage for Sale
FLYING Magazine The Tillamook Air Museum will soon be under the operational umbrella of the Vintage Aviation Museum, a Utah-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. On August 20, the Port of Tillamook Bay Commissioners approved a term sheet for the land lease and future sale of Tillamook’s historic World War II-era Hangar B with the understanding that the Vintage Aviation Museum will assume operation of the museum from the Port of Tillamook Bay and become its future owner. The air museum is ... read more
Ontario Airport Considers Converting Main Hangar to Soccer Facility
A longtime pilot at Niagara Central Dorothy Rungeling Airport in Ontario urged officials Thursday to delay a proposed lease that would turn the airport’s main hangar into an indoor soccer facility until after this fall’s municipal elections. The airport commission is considering leasing the roughly 14,000-square-foot Hangar 1 to a soccer organization for use as an indoor facility. According to reporting by Village Media, the Ontario hangar has been vacant for nearly 20 months and the ... read more
This 1961 Piper PA-24-250 Comanche Is a Refurbished, High-Performance ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1961 Piper PA-24-250 Comanche. Whenever I visit William T, Piper Memorial Airport (KLHV) in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, which seems to hide in the shadow of Bald Eagle Mountain, I try to imagine the scene in 1956 when ... read more
Eight Killed in Alaska Cessna 441 Accident
Eight people were fatally injured Thursday when a Cessna 441 was involved in an accident near Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site Airport in western Alaska. According to preliminary information from the FAA, the airplane departed Anchorage and was en route to Cape Newenham when the accident occurred at approximately 12:15 p.m. local time west of the airport. AP reported “foggy” weather in the area at the time of the accident. Flight To Cape Newenham The airplane was carrying two pilots and ... read more
SyberJet Says SJ30-2 Set Transcontinental Speed Record
SyberJet Aircraft said Friday its SJ30-2 completed a nonstop flight from Jacksonville, Florida, to San Diego in approximately four hours and seven minutes, setting what the company says is an unofficial east-to-west transcontinental speed record in the C-1f aircraft class. The aircraft averaged 505.3 mph during the flight, according to SyberJet. Pending Certification The C-1f designation is part of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale’s record classification system. C-1 covers ... read more
FAA Spends Nearly $1.5B on Airport Upgrades in August
FLYING Magazine The FAA has poured nearly $1.5 billion into new and upgraded airport runways, terminals, towers, passenger areas, and other infrastructure in the month of August alone. The agency on Thursday announced a fresh round of Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants for airports in 42 U.S. states and two territories. A total of about $615 million spread across 238 grants will support runway and taxiway infrastructure improvements, airfield safety upgrades, and “family-friendly” ... read more
Hero Civilian Astronaut Was Man Without Enemies
FLYING Magazine In May 1978, a 37-year-old machinist and his wife flew their odd-looking homebuilt airplane from Indiana to Mojave, California, to show it to its designer, Burt Rutan. Rutan, who had founded the Rutan Aircraft Factory (RAF) several years earlier and was now selling plans for VariEzes, looked over the plane, an all-wood canard pusher called a VariViggen, and admired the workmanship. He promptly invited the visitor and his wife to join his little company. They ... read more
NASA Funds AI Avionics Research
NASA on Thursday announced about $30 million in funding for four university aeronautics projects, including a Stanford University effort to develop machine-learning-enabled aircraft avionics. The multiyear awards are part of NASA’s University Leadership Initiative, which pairs university researchers and students with partners from industry and government. Learning-Enabled Avionics Stanford researcher Somil Bansal will lead the four-year avionics project. The team plans to develop a system ... read more
FLYING Contributor Max Trescott Joins Flight Instructor Hall of Fame
FLYING Magazine The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) has inducted Max Trescott, host of the popular Aviation News Talk podcast and regular FLYING Magazine contributor since 2024, into the Flight Instructor Hall of Fame. Trescott, who has 50 years of flying experience, four airline transport pilot (ATP) certificates, 11,500 hours of dual instruction, and in 2008 earned National Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) of the Year, was announced as the 2026 Hall of Fame honoree ... read more
FAA Reportedly Frustrated With ATC Overhaul Contractor
FAA officials are reportedly considering scaling back Peraton’s role in the government’s air traffic control modernization program. Politico reported the possibility Thursday, just eight months after the Department of Transportation and FAA selected the Virginia-based contractor as prime integrator under a $1.5 billion contract. Questions Over Integration Role “Peraton has basically not done any work since they got in,” a person familiar with the discussions told Politico. The source also ... read more
Antarctica-Bound Air Force C-17 Diverted Due to ‘Planned Missile Launch’
FLYING Magazine A U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster III on a mission from New Zealand to Antarctica turned back this week after being warned of a Russian “planned missile launch,” New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) told FLYING. A spokesperson said Thursday that the agency was alerted to the “potential hazard” by the Russian Air Traffic Management Centre, after which it issued a NOTAM and created a danger area. “This does not prevent aircraft from flying through the area, ... read more
Whisper Aero Flies Electric Swift Glider
Whisper Aero has begun piloted testing of its electric propulsion system on a modified Aériane Swift 3 glider in Tennessee. Test pilot Zac Majors completed three flights totaling 130 minutes using two of the company’s eQ250 electric ducted-fan propulsors. “[I] could really do whatever I wanted with it,” Majors said. “I look forward to flying it again.” Powered Swift Whisper announced plans for the aircraft in April 2025 as part of a partnership with Tennessee Tech. The company said each ... read more
This 2005 Cessna 550 Citation Bravo Is a Ready-to-Fly ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2005 Cessna 550 Citation Bravo. The Cessna Citation Bravo has long been a favorite for jet operators seeking a balance of proven performance and reasonable operating costs. It builds on the immense success of earlier ... read more
Army Restarts Apache Training Flights
The U.S. Army said Wednesday it is resuming AH-64 Apache training flights after temporarily halting the missions following an Aug. 12 accident near Fort Hood, Texas, that killed two soldiers. The cause remains under investigation by the Army Combat Readiness Center at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Training Resumes After Review The Army suspended Apache training operations Aug. 14. According to a statement reported by the Associated Press, the decision to restart training followed “a thorough ... read more
China’s EHang Is ‘Fast Tracking’ Autonomous Air Taxis Globally
FLYING Magazine A Chinese manufacturer of autonomous eVTOL air taxis wants to help other nations evolve the technology from evaluation to introduction in as little as four months. EHang—whose EH216-S earned the world’s first type certificate, production certificate, and standard airworthiness certificate for pilotless, passenger-carrying electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft—on Wednesday launched its “Global Fast Track Program,” naming Sri Lanka as its inaugural member. The ... read more
1 Dead in Midair Involving Police Helicopter and Cessna
FLYING Magazine One person was killed and two others injured in a midair collision between a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter and a Cessna 150. The accident happened just before 7 p.m. EDT Wednesday over Carlisle Airport (N94) west of Harrisburg. Images of the accident released on social media show the helicopter laying on its side in the grass next to the runway. There was a massive police and fire presence with lots of vehicles and flashing lights. According to authorities the Bell ... read more
ATP Brings Back 100-Hour Multi-Engine Program
ATP Flight School announced Wednesday that it has reintroduced a version of its Airline Career Pilot Program providing more than 100 hours of multi-engine flight time. The nine-month program is priced at $123,995 for students starting with no previous flight experience, the same base tuition ATP currently lists for its standard zero-time program. More Seminole Time ATP says students in the new program will log 285 total hours, including 101 hours in multi-engine aircraft, 134 hours in ... read more
Navigating the Modern Goodyear Zeppelin NT Over London’s Skyline
FLYING Magazine Airships have always garnered attention, from the first experimental flights in Germany in 1895 when the zeppelin design was patented to the modern Goodyear blimps flown over sporting events. Today the Goodyear Zeppelin NT (New Technology) provides scenic flights over Europe, resulting in a travel experience like no other. Jürgen Schelling was a passenger during a flight over central London in July and said the view is incredible from the airship and the ground. “Because ... read more
WATCH: ‘Ultraquiet’ Electric Aircraft Engines Power First Piloted Flight
FLYING Magazine An electric aircraft engine designed to reduce operational noise to a whisper is now powering piloted aircraft. Whisper Aero on Wednesday revealed that its “ultra-quiet” eQ250 electric ducted fan propulsion system is being put to the test in Tennessee under an FAA special airworthiness certification. The company said it installed a pair of eQ250s on a modified Aériane Swift 3 glider, with which test pilot Zac Majors conducted three flights spanning 130 minutes, or about 43 ... read more
National Aviation Day Observes Rich History of Flight
FLYING Magazine Every year on August 19, National Aviation Day offers pilots and aviation enthusiasts a chance to celebrate the ability to take to the skies. Three men are responsible for the creation of the day: Orville and Wilbur Wright, who successfully achieved powered heavier-than-air-flight in 1903 at Kill Devil Hills near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, who established the observation with a presidential proclamation in 1939. August 19 was selected because it ... read more
FAA Raises Concerns Over Proposed Runway At Washington’s Lake Chelan Airport
Plans to realign and extend the runway at Lake Chelan Airport in Washington are being reconsidered after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) determined that the previously selected runway configuration would not be operationally feasible. According to the Lake Chelan Mirror, the Chelan City Council voted Aug. 11 to accept a $418,000 FAA grant to update the airport’s master plan and airport layout plan. The planning effort is expected to cost about $459,800, with additional funding ... read more
This 1998 Cessna 182S Skylane Is a Multi-Use ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1998 Cessna 182S Skylane. Regarded as aviation’s ultimate Swiss Army knife, the Cessna 182 Skylane holds a legendary reputation for its remarkable hauling capability, short-field prowess, and straightforward handling ... read more
Amazon to Expand Drone Delivery to Nearly 500 U.S. Cities
Amazon is planning a major expansion of its Prime Air drone delivery service, with the company targeting nearly 500 U.S. cities and towns by the end of 2026. The expansion would represent roughly a sixfold increase from Prime Air’s current footprint. Amazon currently operates from 11 delivery sites serving 10 metropolitan areas across Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska and Texas. The company said it expects the expanded network to reach tens of millions of customers. ... read more
NTSB Releases New Video, Investigative Details From Fatal Philadelphia Learjet Accident
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a new batch of investigative material from its probe of the January 2025 Learjet 55 crash in Philadelphia, including surveillance videos capturing the aircraft before and during the accident. The material was added to the NTSB’s public docket Tuesday, Aug. 18. The docket now contains 59 items, including operational, airworthiness and maintenance reports, along with videos, audio recordings and other investigative data. Among the ... read more
FLYING Launches New ‘Aviation Start’ Podcast
FLYING Magazine FLYING is expanding its career coverage with the launch of Aviation Start, a new video podcast designed to help aspiring aviation professionals turn their interest in flight into a viable career. The show debuted Wednesday, August 19, in recognition of National Aviation Day. The annual observance was established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939 and coincides with the birthday of aviation pioneer Orville Wright. Aviation Start is hosted by Jamail Larkins, an ... read more
Electric Aircraft Firm Beta, Operators Hold ‘Discussions on Larger Platforms’
FLYING Magazine Electric aircraft manufacturer Beta Technologies is in “discussions on larger platforms” with operators, Simon Newitt, the company’s global head of sales and support, told FLYING. “We’re discussing with and listening to those operators as to what they want, and if they’re interested in larger platforms, that’s just good information for us as we consider our product strategy and roadmap as we go forward,” Newitt said. Air New Zealand has reportedly asked Beta to design a ... read more
Study Finds Elevated Cancer Risk for Pilots, Flight Attendants
Pilots and flight attendants have the highest and second-highest rates of death from radiation-related cancers among more than 500 occupations, according to a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine. The research examined U.S. death records from 2020 through 2024 and included nearly 13 million people across 503 occupations. Researchers identified about 14,000 pilots and 7,000 flight attendants in the data and compared their cancer mortality with that of workers in other ... read more
Army Selects M1 Services To Modernize Helicopter Pilot Training
The U.S. Army is moving toward a new model for training helicopter pilots, selecting M1 Services to run its next-generation flight school at Fort Rucker, Alabama. The Army announced last week that M1 had been selected for Flight School Next, a program aimed at modernizing Initial Entry Rotary-Wing (IERW) training. The contractor-owned, contractor-operated program is expected to train between 800 and 1,500 Army aviators each year. Under the new model, M1 will provide the aircraft, ... read more
Airline Pilots Called It ‘Rolling the Dice’
FLYING Magazine After typing a couple of paragraphs, it took a moment to realize that the topic I had originally intended for this column had disappeared. Instead, the words I had written became a trigger for reflection, which is not a process I often entertain. The reflection involved decisions that significantly affected the trajectory of my career path. Perhaps the insight will help guide those following in similar footsteps. For me and my colleagues, the phrase “rolling the dice” meant ... read more
What Is the Best Source for GPS Overlay on IFR Approaches?
FLYING Magazine Question: I am getting back into instrument flying after a 15-year break, and I’m a little confused about flying a non-precision approach with a GPS overlay. I’m getting conflicting information from the instructors at the flight school. Some say I don’t need to know it since there are always RNAV approaches at airports. It seems like GPS overlay means GPS can be used to fly any approach, but then I hear there are all sorts of caveats. What is the best source of reliable ... read more
How PGA Tour Pro Maverick McNealy Buys Back Time in a Cirrus
FLYING Magazine Most professional athletes measure success in trophies and rankings. Maverick McNealy measures it differently. Ask him what he wants people to remember, and the PGA Tour pro doesn’t mention a leaderboard. “I think what I’m going to care about is whose lives I made better along the way, and the connections I made,” McNealy said in a recent sit-down interview with Cirrus. McNealy, a Stanford University product now in his seventh season on tour, has structured his life around ... read more
Hybrid-Electric Aircraft Trials Begin in Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
FLYING Magazine The FAA on Tuesday said prototype hybrid-electric aircraft recently began a series of demonstration flights in Virginia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania that are expected to continue for three years. Manassas, Virginia-based Electra, which conducted the flights using its EL2 Goldfinch demonstrator, said it connected Philadelphia International Airport (KPHL) to four small airports across the three states. The EL2 flew into Washington Manassas Airport (KHEF) in Virginia, ... read more
BETA Starts Texas Electric Aircraft Test Flights
BETA Technologies is beginning electric aircraft test flights Tuesday from Scholes International Airport in Galveston, Texas. The flights are expected to continue for about three weeks as the company evaluates the aircraft during operations around southeast Texas. Flights Around Southeast Texas “The flight testing will be between Galveston up to Sugar Land and Brenham, Texas,” Scholes International Airport Director Mike Shahan told KHOU. The flights will give BETA additional operating time ... read more
Bedford Pushes Back On Burke Lakefront Closure
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford on Friday publicly opposed Cleveland’s effort to close Burke Lakefront Airport, while Ohio Sens. Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted indicated they would not support using Congress to bypass the FAA’s traditional review process. FAA Opposes Closure “We need to talk about how to reopen new facilities, not how do we close existing valuable real estate,” Bedford told News 5 Cleveland. The administrator said the FAA generally opposes airport closures and cited ... read more
Laredo Youth Pilot Program Draws More Than 1,000 Applicants
A free youth aviation program in Laredo, Texas, has received more than 1,000 applications since launching in April, far exceeding the roughly 50 organizers initially expected. Program director and commercial pilot Victor Trevino told local station KGNS that the response led organizers to create multiple classes to accommodate more students. Demand Exceeds Expectations The program is open to students ages 12 to 18 and provides ground-school instruction at no cost. Students study subjects ... read more
This 1991 Beechcraft A36 Bonanza Is a Sharp ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1991 Beechcraft A36 Bonanza. Renowned for over seven decades as a titan of the single-engine, high-performance category, the Beechcraft Bonanza needs no introduction. While the standard A36 is already highly regarded ... read more
FAA Proposes Fix For Freezing 737 AOA Sensors
The FAA is proposing a new airworthiness directive for certain Boeing 737-300, -400 and -500 aircraft over angle-of-attack sensor vanes that can freeze and potentially affect the stall-warning system. The proposal, published Tuesday, follows nuisance stick-shaker activations reported on MD-90 aircraft that use related AOA sensor hardware. Frozen Vane Problem The MD-90 events occurred while the aircraft were accelerating to cruise speed at the top of climb. According to the FAA, recorded ... read more
Boeing Field Runway Scoured in Semiannual FOD Walk
FLYING Magazine We came. We walked. We looked for trash—and were happy when little or none was found. Because trash on an active runway, which is known as FOD (foreign object debris), is dangerous. I was one of 100 civilian volunteers to turn out in Seattle on Saturday for the King County International Airport-Boeing Field (KBFI) FOD walk. Runway inspection and FOD removal is a daily occurrence at airports. Usually it’s the airport manager or someone delegated by them driving a truck with ... read more
Rafale Pilot Spots Global 6000 Fuel Leak
France’s Air Defense and Air Operations Command said Monday that a Rafale pilot discovered a fuel leak on a civilian Bombardier Global 6000 while the fighter was conducting an air-defense training mission. The command did not specify when the flight occurred. The Rafale joined the civil aircraft at 40,000 feet during the exercise. The fighter pilot noticed an additional trail behind the Global 6000 that appeared different from its normal condensation trails, according to the command. After ... read more
The Other Eight-Hour Rule
FLYING Magazine The instructors knew we could expect a full day of flying when we walked into the flight school in the morning and found a bottle of water and a granola bar on our desks. This was the dispatcher’s way of letting us know the schedule was booked solid with back-to-back flights all day. What inevitably followed was the verbal warning to watch the Hobbs time carefully so you did not violate cFAR §61.195—Flight Instructor limitation and qualifications (a) Hours of training: In ... read more
The Airplane Farm Announces MOSAIC eVTOL Aircraft
The Airplane Farm, a Sparks, Nevada-based aircraft company founded this year, announced plans Saturday for three eVTOL designs aimed at personal transportation, aerobatic flying and tactical operations. The young company says prototype construction and initial testing are underway. Its team draws on earlier aircraft development work that includes the MXS aerobatic racer, ViperJet, Javelin and TwinJet. Three Different Missions The Harvest is a personal powered-lift design intended for sport ... read more
Vision Jet Damaged In Idaho Takeoff Accident
A Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet struck construction equipment Friday morning while attempting to depart Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport (KDIJ) in Idaho, injuring one person. The accident occurred at about 6:24 a.m. local time and involved two people aboard the aircraft. Runway Under Repair At the time of the accident, Runway 4/22 was operating with 3,850 feet available because of pavement damage caused by a ruptured pressurized irrigation line beneath the runway. The airport said the rupture shifted ... read more
Cirrus Vision Jet Collides With Construction Equipment at Idaho Airport
FLYING Magazine Authorities are investigating the collision of a Cirrus Vision Jet and a piece of construction equipment at Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport (KDIJ) in Idaho on Friday. The airport is a nontowered facility with a single runway aligned 04/22 that normally measures 7,301 feet by 100 feet. However, for several weeks the airport has temporarily been operating with a shortened runway due to a construction project. Several weeks prior to the start of the work, airport officials ... read more
Air Force HH-60Ws Rescue Five Navy Personnel
The U.S. Air Force said Monday that two HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters were dispatched from Nellis Air Force Base to rescue five Navy personnel after an MH-60S Seahawk made a hard landing near Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California. The Aug. 10 event occurred in mountainous terrain during a high-altitude training flight. None of the five Navy personnel were injured. Aircraft Ready In Less Than 30 Minutes The 88th Test and Evaluation Squadron received notification of the hard ... read more
Uber’s Drone Delivery Bet: 1 Million Daily Trips by 2029
FLYING Magazine App- and web-based delivery platforms from Walmart, Amazon, DoorDash, and now Uber are embracing small drones to slash trip times in a trend that could reshape low-altitude U.S. airspace. Uber on Monday announced it is partnering with drone manufacturer and operator Zipline, which is also a partner of Walmart and competitor Wonder, the parent company of Grubhub. By the end of 2029, Uber and Zipline hope to achieve a cadence of 1 million daily drone deliveries, with “goals ... read more
NASA Announces MAX POWER Aerospace Expo at Kennedy
NASA on Friday announced MAX POWER, a two-day aerospace expo and airshow scheduled for Nov. 7-8 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The event will include NASA and military aircraft, technology exhibits, astronaut appearances and public access to the former Shuttle Landing Facility. Airshow At The Shuttle Runway “Certainly, the idea is that this event, Max Power, becomes the first of many,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said during Friday’s news conference. Isaacman, who is also a ... read more
FAA Gives AT&T $74.3 Million Start On New ATC Network
The FAA has awarded AT&T an initial $74.3 million task order to begin planning and development for FAA Enterprise Network Services (FENS), a communications network that will support the agency’s ongoing air traffic control overhaul. The task order is currently the only funded portion of an undefinitized contract that the FAA expects could ultimately reach several billion dollars and run for as long as 15 years. Building The Network FENS is intended to provide secure communications and ... read more
This 2005 Cirrus SR20 G2 Is a Comfort-Cruising ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2005 Cirrus SR20 G2. By introducing a sleek, composite airframe, advanced safety features, and simplified systems to a market hungry for innovation, the SR20 pushed general aviation into a new age. This foundational ... read more
We Fly: Stepping Up in Style With Daher Aircraft TBM 980
FLYING Magazine Long family trips for our sons’ far-flung sporting events, and a drawn-out move across several states to a new home combined over the past year to put me behind the wheel of the car more often than at the controls of an airplane. Still, as always, I spent much of my driving time thinking about flying. Mostly I considered how much sooner we would arrive at our destination if only we were airborne. Flying from our old home in New Jersey to the new one in Vermont in Annie, our ... read more
Electric Airplane Maker Beta Sees Up to $50M Revenue in FY26
FLYING Magazine Beta Technologies has not certified any of the electric aircraft it is developing at its facilities in Vermont. Yet the manufacturer expects to generate up to $50 million in revenue in fiscal year 2026. Beta on Wednesday announced its operating results for the second quarter of 2026, the highlight being a record $14.7 million in revenue. That was above the company’s quarterly guidance of $8 million-$11 million and more than double the $6 million in revenue it recorded in Q2 ... read more
Chandler Approves 29 New Executive Hangars
The Chandler City Council this week unanimously approved a ground lease for 29 new executive hangars at Chandler Municipal Airport in Arizona. Vesper Aviation subsidiary CHD Curtis East LLC will develop the hangars on currently undeveloped airport property and offer them for sale or lease. Hangars Coming in 2028 The project will occupy 4.798 acres along the airport’s northern boundary under a 30-year ground lease that includes an option for a 10-year extension. The agreement requires ... read more
FAA Updates Cockpit-Control Guidance for Touchscreens, Voice Commands
The FAA is accepting comments through Sept. 24 on proposed guidance for certifying cockpit controls that include touchscreens, speech recognition and other software-based interfaces. Draft Advisory Circular 20-175A would replace guidance issued in 2011 and applies to aircraft certified under Parts 23, 25, 27 and 29. The FAA’s underlying approach is largely unchanged from the 2011 guidance, which already addressed issues such as touchscreen usability, hand stabilization and access to ... read more
Visionary Behind Wipaire Floats and Fire Boss Air Tractor Remembered
FLYING Magazine Robert “Wip” Wiplinger, a second-generation Wipaire employee and the mind behind several aircraft modifications designed to improve the capability of float-equipped airplanes, died on August 4 in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. He was 80. Since his death, more than 100 people have taken to social media to pay their respects. Wiplinger, who also went by “Bob,” was born in 1945 into an aviation family. His father, Ben Wiplinger, who served as an aircraft mechanic during World ... read more
Italy Seizes Foreign-Registered GA Aircraft
Italian authorities have seized several foreign-registered general aviation aircraft in recent months as the country’s financial police increase customs and tax enforcement at airports. One case involves an N-registered Mooney M20K that was seized at Trento Airport April 9 and had not been released when German aviation publication Aerokurier reported on the case in late June. The aircraft’s owner said his attorney was handling eight seizure cases and knew of roughly 30 similar cases across ... read more
100% Drone Tariff Could Force Users to Buy American
FLYING Magazine Operators and casual users of commercially available drones may soon need to pay more for their preferred models or switch to American-made alternatives. The White House on Thursday proclaimed new tariffs on foreign-made drones and their components that possess capabilities it deems “particularly sensitive for national security purposes.” That includes a 100 percent ad valorem tariff on drones with maximum takeoff weight above 55 pounds or that have “certain capabilities,” ... read more
Researchers Demonstrate 60-Second 737 Avionics Attack
Researchers from UC San Diego and Oberlin College on Thursday presented a proof-of-concept hardware attack that could interfere with communications between critical avionics systems on Boeing 737 Next Generation and MAX aircraft. The device can be installed during roughly 60 seconds of physical access on the ground, according to the research presented at the USENIX Security Symposium. The team demonstrated the attack on a testbed built from authentic 737 components and software rather than ... read more
One Week Wonder Returning to AirVenture in 2027
EAA’s One Week Wonder aircraft-building project will return to AirVenture Oshkosh in 2027, when attendees will help assemble a Zenith CH 750 Super Cruzer during the weeklong event. Construction is scheduled to begin July 26, the opening day of AirVenture, and EAA plans to complete the aircraft by Aug. 1. Attendees Join the Build “The One Week Wonder’s goal is to showcase the relative ease of building a kit aircraft — seeing is believing,” Charlie Becker, EAA’s director of chapters and ... read more
This 1975 Beechcraft Baron B55 Is a Generously Updated ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1975 Beechcraft Baron B55. Many pilots of a certain age, including yours truly, will always consider the light twin a natural choice when stepping up to an aircraft with more power and flexibility than ... read more
Miami Executive Airport Takes the Experimental Stage
FLYING Magazine One of Florida’s busiest general aviation airports is dedicating a chunk of airspace to study the operation of eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) air taxis, autonomous drones, and other novel aviation technologies. Miami Executive Airport (KTMB) has one of the nation’s first agreements to host demonstrations of these aircraft. It will begin testing the integration of small drones within a cordoned off section of the airport, away from active runways. Ultimately, ... read more
2 Army Soldiers Dead Following Apache Helicopter Crash in Texas
FLYING Magazine Two U.S. Army soldiers died after an AH-64E Apache attack helicopter crashed Wednesday in Salado, Texas, according to an update from the Army’s media center for Fort Hood. The deceased service members were transported to Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood. Their names are being withheld until 24 hours after families are notified. Cliff Coleman, public information officer for the Bell County Sheriff’s Office, said the helicopter avoided hitting houses but ... read more
FAA Still Billions Short of Funding Needed for ATC Data Automation
FLYING Magazine As competition for the FAA’s common automation platform (CAP) contract heats up, the agency still lacks the funds required to develop the technology, which is envisioned to combine its En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) and Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS) platforms. Thales becomes the latest company to pitch a CAP solution to the FAA. On Wednesday, it announced TopSky-America, a cloud-based, AI-powered platform that it said is tailored for the ... read more
BETA Posts $149 Million Quarterly Loss
BETA Technologies reported Wednesday a $148.8 million net loss for the second quarter of 2026, compared with an $80.4 million loss during the same period last year. The electric aircraft developer generated $14.7 million in quarterly revenue, up from $6 million a year earlier. Spending Rises BETA reported $166.1 million in operating expenses for the quarter, or around double the $84.1 million the company reported in Q2 2025. The company’s research and development expenses increased from ... read more
Heart X1 Completes First Flight
Heart Aerospace’s X1 demonstrator completed its first flight Wednesday at Plattsburgh International Airport in New York. The company says the full-scale Heart X1 aircraft is the largest battery-electric airplane flown to date. 27-Minute Flight The piloted flight lasted 27 minutes and reached 1,100 feet AGL. Heart said the X1’s battery-electric propulsion system produced more than 1 megawatt of power during the flight. The test profile included taxi, takeoff, climb, maneuvering and landing ... read more
History’s Largest Battery-Electric Plane Takes Flight in New York
FLYING Magazine The largest battery-electric, fixed-wing aircraft in history made its debut flight this week, marking the start of a test campaign to validate a planned, 30-seat, hybrid-electric airliner. Los Angeles-based Heart Aerospace said Thursday that its X1 demonstrator, a precursor to its flagship ES-30, flew out of Plattsburgh International Airport (KPBG)—the company’s flight testing base in upstate New York—on all-electric battery propulsion. Heart said the X1 is the largest ... read more
Michigan Awards $2M for Drone, AAM Projects
Michigan announced Wednesday that it has awarded a combined $2 million to five companies that will deploy drone and advanced air mobility technologies for state agencies. The projects are part of the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform’s AAM Statewide Mobility Challenges program. Five Agencies, Five Uses The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will work with Orb Aerospace to deploy vertical takeoff and landing drones for aerial mapping, wildfire monitoring and natural resource ... read more
‘Spruce Goose’ Home Rebrands as North American Aerospace Museum
FLYING Magazine The Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon, has a new name—the North American Aerospace Museum. The museum, which opened in 2001 approximately 50 miles southwest of Portland, is famously known for being the home of the Hughes H-4 Hercules, also known as the “Spruce Goose,”—a name that designer Howard Hughes detested in part because the aircraft is primarily made from birch. Over the decades the museum has grown from being an eclectic collection of ... read more
This 1948 Cessna 170 Is a Classic ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1948 Cessna 170. The Cessna 170 represents the dawn of one of the most successful lines of light aircraft ever produced. Prized for its classic taildragger handling and timeless ramp appeal, this foundational model ... read more
FAA Orders Rotax Gearbox Inspections
The FAA issued a new airworthiness directive Thursday requiring inspections of certain Rotax 912 and 914-series engines after a recently manufactured propeller gearbox was found missing an oil spray nozzle and screws used to secure the propeller shaft bearing. The AD, published Thursday, takes effect Aug. 28 and is expected to affect about 180 engines on U.S.-registered aircraft. Rotax determined the components had not been installed during production. According to the FAA, the missing ... read more
Two Soldiers Killed In Fort Hood Apache Accident
Two U.S. Army soldiers were killed Wednesday when an AH-64E Apache based at Fort Hood went down during a routine training flight near Salado, Texas. Bell County authorities began receiving reports of the accident at about 1:34 p.m. Fire Prompts Evacuations The aircraft came down in a field, sparking a grass fire that prompted several nearby homes to be evacuated out of precaution. The Bell County Sheriff’s Office said no homes or other structures were struck in the accident. “Our immediate ... read more
Palm Springs Air Museum Seeking Support to Reach Roswell
FLYING Magazine The Palm Springs Air Museum (PSAM) is planning to take three of its historic vintage warbirds to the National Championship Air Races at Roswell, New Mexico, and it could use your help. The California museum is asking for donations to help support the team’s trip to the event on September 16-20 at the Roswell International Air Center (KROW). The PSAM will be bringing its two P-51 Mustangs and one of the last flying P-63 Kingcobras left in the world. Museum officials note ... read more
Joby Splits Commercial and Defense VTOL Projects With $500M Acquisition
FLYING Magazine Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft developer Joby Aviation on Tuesday announced a $500 million acquisition that it said will deepen its ties in defense while accelerating commercialization of its electric VTOL (eVTOL) air taxi. The company said its “definitive agreement” to acquire Dayton, Ohio-based Resonant Sciences for $500 million is expected to close in early 2027. The deal includes about $50 million in Joby common stock. Resonant will operate under the same ... read more
AOPA Proposes Major Governance Changes Ahead of September Vote
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is proposing its most significant changes to its governing bylaws in decades, including a new process for nominating trustees, term limits, and electronic voting for members. Members were first briefed on the proposal at the association’s annual meeting in May. Among the most notable changes would be a new process for selecting members of AOPA’s Board of Trustees. Under the proposal, prospective new trustee candidates would have to submit a ... read more
U.S. Army Awards Collins $427M for CH-47 Chinook Modernization
FLYING Magazine The U.S. Army now plans to spend north of $1 billion to modernize its fleet of venerable CH-47 Chinook helicopters in order to keep them flying into the 2060s. RTX on Tuesday announced that the Army awarded Collins Aerospace a contract worth up to $472 million for avionics upgrades designed to keep the platform mission-ready well into the future. Combined with its October 2025 award of more than $870 million to Boeing for up to 60 CH-47F Block II variants, the Army’s ... read more
AOPA to Vote on Trustee Term Limits, Changes to Nominating Process
FLYING Magazine The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is considering a revision to its bylaws that would make several changes to the way trustees are selected. For starters, the proposed amendments establish new qualifications for trustees, implement trustee term limits, and empower members to nominate trustees. The proposed revisions will be voted on at a special meeting slated for September 19 at the National Aviation Community Center at Frederick Municipal Airport (KFDK) in ... read more
California Pilots Challenge Use of ADS-B Data for Aircraft Taxes
California pilots are pushing back against Los Angeles County’s use of aircraft tracking data for property-tax collection, arguing that information gathered for aviation safety should not be repurposed to track aircraft owners for tax purposes. Los Angeles County Assessor Jeffrey Prang says his office is using ADS-B data to identify privately owned aircraft that may have gone unreported for tax purposes. The county announced in March that new software had identified previously unassessed ... read more
Seattle-Tacoma Moves Forward with $2.5B S Concourse Renovation
FLYING Magazine International travelers passing through Seattle will soon have a different experience passing through the S Concourse at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (KSEA). According to officials from the Port of Seattle, the concourse will be getting a $2.5 billion renovation, transforming the 1973-era facility into a more modern space. Work is slated to begin in 2027. “Today’s authorization to move forward with the S Concourse Evolution builds on the generational investments we ... read more
This 2012 Aviat A-1C-200 Husky Is a Magazine-Featured ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2012 Aviat A-1C-200 Husky. When the pavement ends and the wilderness begins, few aircraft are as capable as the Aviat Husky. Born from a desire to perfect the backcountry flying experience, this taildragger is ... read more
Red Arrows Plan Return After Weather Delay Grounds Team in Canada
After nearly two weeks stranded in Canada by poor weather, the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows plan to resume their journey home to the U.K. this week. The unexpected delay sidelined the Red Arrows for three major events, including Airbourne: Eastbourne International Airshow, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week. In a statement, the RAF said the events will continue with other participating military aircraft, but the display team will be absent. “We are very sorry ... read more
FAA Gives AMEs More Authority on Mental Health Medical Renewals
The FAA late last month expanded aviation medical examiners’ authority to reissue medical certificates to certain pilots with anxiety, depression and related conditions. The agency added the new AME-Assisted Special Issuance pathway to its AME Guide on July 29. Under the new pathway, the FAA still makes the initial Special Issuance determination. Once the agency authorizes a pilot for the program, an AME can reissue subsequent medical certificates if the pilot continues to meet the FAA’s ... read more
Are Those ‘Smoking Rivets’ on an Airplane a Safety Risk?
FLYING Magazine Question: I just started flying at the local flight school. They have two airplanes—a 1978 Cessna 172 and a 1975 Cessna 150. Both airplanes are parked on the ramp and have black rings around the rivets on top of the wings, which makes me wonder if this is corrosion and how bad it has to get before the aircraft are grounded. I asked my CFI, and he said it was nothing to worry about. Is this corrosion or something worse? Answer: What you are describing is rivet fretting more ... read more
New Surface Radar at Newark as Modernization Push Continues
The Federal Aviation Administration installed a new surface movement radar at Newark Liberty International Airport, as part of its effort to modernize the nation’s aging air traffic control infrastructure. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford unveiled the new Surface Movement Radar Model 4 (SMR-4) on Tuesday, saying the system will give controllers a clearer picture of aircraft and vehicle movements on the airport surface, particularly during darkness or ... read more
Dealing With Some Cold-Blooded Cargo
FLYING Magazine At lunch several weeks ago, I told a story of a B-25 that crash-landed at Lunken Airport in the 1960s with a cargo of wild reptiles, snakes and alligators. Some of these guys were old hands at Lunken, but they simply didn’t believe me. It was way back when the original control tower was still in the main terminal building, manned by a bunch of really great FAA controllers, and the tower chief was a good friend, Wes Schaeffer. This Article First Appeared in FLYING ... read more
GAO Finds FBO Fees Often Missing Online
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported Tuesday that required FBO fees can be difficult to determine online, even when pilots can readily find accurate fuel prices. Investigators posing as pilots called 45 FBOs at 40 general aviation airports and compared the prices they received by phone against listings on AirNav, AOPA’s airport directory, ForeFlight and FBO websites. Required Fees Often Incomplete Of the 45 FBOs investigators contacted, 16 said they charged required fees ... read more
Newark Airport Gets New Radar, but DOT Seeks $10B for Additional Upgrades
FLYING Magazine U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford on Monday inaugurated a new surface movement radar (SMR) at Newark Liberty International Airport (KEWR). But the officials are seeking at least $10 billion more for further air traffic control (ATC) upgrades. Duffy has previously requested $19 billion in addition to the $12.5 billion allocated by Congress to the effort in 2025. In July, the Modern Skies Coalition, a group of aviation stakeholders ... read more
eVTOL Paramedic Beats Ambulance by 20 Minutes
Hyde County, North Carolina, said Tuesday that one of its paramedics has flown a single-seat Pivotal BlackFly eVTOL on two live 911 calls. According to the county, the paramedic reached one patient about 20 minutes before a ground ambulance and began advanced life support before other crews arrived. County EMS officials, Pivotal and Code Blue Resources described the missions as the first U.S. deployment of an eVTOL for routine emergency medical response. Paramedic Quinn Reece flew directly ... read more
Report: Trump Secretly Switched Airplanes on Trip Back From Turkey
FLYING Magazine President Donald Trump secretly exited Air Force One and boarded a different military aircraft before beginning his journey back from a NATO summit in Turkey in July, according to a Washington Post report. Citing sources familiar with the matter, the newspaper said the switch-up was prompted by a threat on the president’s life from Iran. The apparent last-minute decision to use the older, robin’s egg blue-and-white Air Force One instead of a jet gifted to Trump by Qatar ... read more
American Flight Uses Non-Biobased SAF in U.S. First
American Airlines flew the first U.S. commercial passenger flight last week using sustainable aviation fuel made without biobased feedstocks. The airline said the flight operated from Corpus Christi to Dallas-Fort Worth. Fuel producer Infinium produced the electro sustainable aviation fuel, or eSAF, at its Pathfinder facility in Corpus Christi. The company makes the fuel using waste carbon dioxide and renewable electricity rather than plant- or animal-derived feedstocks. Although American ... read more
One City, Multiple Airports
FLYING Magazine The rule at the flight school was that the applicants would have at least two mock check rides in house before they paid $500 or more to a DPE for the real thing. I was designated the check airman for a particular private pilot applicant. His CFI asked me to put the applicant through his paces, showing no mercy, to find the soft spots in his training. I accepted the assignment. The applicant was instructed to create a cross-country VFR flight plan for the mock ride using ... read more
Used Piston Aircraft Inventory Falls 17% From Last Year
Inventory of used single-engine piston aircraft in the U.S. and Canada fell 17.01% year over year in July, according to the latest aviation market report from Sandhills Global. Inventory also declined 2.5% from June and is currently trending downward. Asking Prices Remain Relatively Flat Despite the decline in available aircraft, asking values showed little movement during the month. Used piston-single asking prices increased 0.09% from June but remained 0.37% below July 2025 levels. ... read more
Cleveland Council Chair Says Burke Hearing ‘Not Time Sensitive’
A Cleveland City Council leader says another hearing on the future of Burke Lakefront Airport is possible, but he does not consider supporters’ request for one an immediate priority. “I understand the enthusiasm, but it’s not time sensitive in my mind,” Transportation and Mobility Committee Chair Charles Slife told Axios Cleveland. Slife said other legislative matters currently have priority, although he remains open to holding a fifth hearing focused on Burke users and ... read more
This 1979 Piper PA-28RT-201T Turbo Arrow IV Is a High-Flying ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1979 Piper PA-28RT-201T Turbo Arrow IV. The Piper Turbo Arrow IV represents a premier step-up choice for aviators seeking a reliable retractable-gear airplane. Recognized instantly by its iconic T-tail configuration, ... read more
Electric VTOL Aircraft Answer Real 911 Calls in North Carolina
FLYING Magazine Quinn Reece, a paramedic with Hyde County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in North Carolina, is not your average first responder. Recently, Reece responded to a 911 call about 20 minutes faster than an ambulance. The seemingly impossible feat was enabled by a unique aircraft that lifts off vertically like a helicopter but tilts forward to fly on fixed wings. Pivotal’s BlackFly, a prototype of the company’s planned Helix, is a Part 103 eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and ... read more
Two Killed in S-64 Skycrane Accident Fighting Utah Wildfire
Two pilots were fatally injured Friday when a Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane was involved in an accident during firefighting operations on the Widemouth 2 Fire in central Utah. The accident occurred around 10:40 a.m. near Richfield while the helicopter was conducting water drops, according to wildfire officials. The FAA said two people were in the aircraft. Fire Delayed Access to Accident Site The helicopter was operated by Helicopter Transport Services under an exclusive-use U.S. Forest Service ... read more
Severe Runway Incursions Jump 44% in 2025
The number of severe runway incursions in the U.S. increased 44% in 2025, according to an FAA Safety Team notice published Friday. More than 1,600 runway incursions were recorded during the year, while the overall number of events declined about 1%. Serious Incursions Move Higher “While the total number of runway incursions (over 1,600) decreased by about 1%, ‘severe’ (Category A & B) incursions increased by 44%,” the FAA Safety Team said in the notice. The FAA classifies Category A ... read more
2 Pilots Killed in Helicopter Crash While Fighting Utah Wildfire
FLYING Magazine Two pilots died when their firefighting helicopter crashed in central Utah while en route to a blaze in Fishlake National Forest. The Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane was dispatched Friday morning to combat the wildfire. According to the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office, the helicopter went down at about 10 a.m. MDT near Richfield, Utah, en route to the fire. Immediately after the accident, access to the crash site was blocked by the raging wildfire, so the condition of the crew could ... read more
Vertical Aerospace Lines Up $100 Million Financing
Vertical Aerospace announced Monday it has lined up approximately $100 million in new financing as the British eVTOL developer works toward certification and production of its Valo aircraft. The funding comes from convertible debt, an equity offering and a preferred-equity facility. Three-Part Financing The package includes $40 million from Vertical’s largest shareholder, Mudrick Capital Management, and includes a $5 million draw that has already closed and a planned $35 million draw. ... read more
Boeing Autonomous Air Taxi Unit Wisk Aero Acquired by Archer
FLYING Magazine Boeing is offloading three autonomous aviation-focused businesses—including its self-flying air taxi arm Wisk Aero—to Archer Aviation in an agreement that one executive described as a “win-win” for both companies. Archer will acquire Wisk—as well as SkyGrid, an air traffic management provider, and Insitu, a developer of military uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS)—in an all-stock transaction that gives Boeing warrants to purchase up to $200 million of Archer stock in the ... read more
NATCA Candidates Slam Duffy’s Comments on Controller Sick Calls
FLYING Magazine Two candidates running to lead the National Air Traffic Controllers Association are pushing back on comments from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy that placed at least some of the blame for recent flight delays and cancellations on controllers calling out sick. In a post on X on Friday, Duffy linked disruptions in the Northeast to call-outs and bad weather. “For any travelers flying in and out of the Northeast – please be prepared for delays and cancellations due to ... read more
This 2014 CubCrafters Carbon Cub SS Is a Backcountry-Famous ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2014 CubCrafters Carbon Cub SS. One of general aviation’s premier off-airport performers, the Carbon Cub SS is known as a lightweight and highly capable machine that is an absolute joy to fly. This particular ... read more
Drone Interferes With Utah Wildfire Response
A drone interfered with aerial firefighting operations Saturday as crews battled the Eight Mile Fire west of Cedar City, Utah, according to Iron County emergency officials. The fire grew to about 60 acres as crews used retardant drops and helicopters to contain the lightning-caused blaze. “Air assets will be grounded unless this drone stops flying!!!” Iron County Emergency Management said in a Facebook post reported by KSL. “If this is your drone please cease immediately so that we can get ... read more
Farmer Charged With Attempted Murder After Shooting at Crop Duster
An Indiana farmer has been charged with attempted murder after authorities say he fired at an occupied agricultural aircraft during aerial application operations last year. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office arrested Kedrick Miller, 41, of Thorntown on Aug. 5 following an investigation into the July 18, 2025, shooting. Prosecutors also charged Miller with attempting to disrupt the operation of an aircraft, criminal recklessness and intimidation. Pilot Found Bullet Hole After ... read more
FAA Issues AD for Boeing Jet Fuselage Cracks
FLYING Magazine The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Boeing 737-8, 737-9, and 737-8200 airplanes stemming from the discovery of cracks on the structural metal sheet that reinforces the fuselage skin around door cutouts. According to the AD, the agency received reports of cracks in this metal known as the “bear strap” at the forward galley door cutout. The AD requires an inspection of the fuselage skin for existing repairs and applicable on-condition actions. READ ... read more
CAF Airbase Georgia Announces WWII Warbird Tour
FLYING Magazine If you have ever dreamed of flying in a P-51 Mustang, make your way to Georgia, where the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) will be providing opportunities to take flight in the restored World War II aircraft during a seven-airport tour that begins in August and runs through November. The P-51 is one of several CAF Airbase Georgia aircraft making the tour, which make stops in Toccoa, Augusta, Atlanta, Macon, Athens, and Gainesville, before wrapping up at the Mustang’s home base ... read more
Bob Hoover Academy Creates Flight Path to Resilience
FLYING Magazine The teen years can be troubling, more for some than others. Unfortunately many are faced with external forces such as brushes with the law, housing instability, gang violence, or simply being told by authority figures (parents or teachers) that they won’t amount to anything. This can put you into a downward spiral that robs you of joy and makes you lean toward bad choices because you don’t see a future for yourself. Then one day you find that thing that saves you. For Sean ... read more
More Than a Passenger: Helping Your Plus-One Become an Active Participant in Flight
FLYING Magazine There is a moment I have heard about hundreds of times from right-seaters. The pilot taxis out for departure feeling excited, focused, and comfortable in an environment that feels almost like home. Sitting beside them is someone they deeply care about—a spouse, partner, family member, or friend—smiling politely while quietly gripping the armrest with white knuckles. The pilot hears engine sounds, radio calls, and cockpit alerts as normal parts of flying. The plus-one hears ... read more
Malaysia Aviation Group Orders Drug Testing For 1,260 Pilots
Malaysia Aviation Group has ordered mandatory drug screening for 1,260 Malaysia Airlines pilots after an off-duty second officer was detained in Indonesia last month on alleged drug-trafficking charges. Testing Required By Aug. 15 The first phase of testing is scheduled to be completed by Aug. 15, according to a Friday statement from MAG reported by Reuters. The company said the mandatory screening will supplement its existing random drug-testing program and eventually expand to all active ... read more
Faster Pathways to High-Paying Aviation Careers
FLYING Magazine As the traditional school year is about to get underway, it is likely that parents of high school students are having some serious discussions about what the child will do after graduation. Ostensibly the benefit of post-secondary education is to enable the student to get a job. However, traditional college academic degrees no longer guarantee a job, and the higher-paying professions, such as those in the medical field, require multiple years of study, often resulting in a ... read more
FAA Proposes Dropping Third-Class Medical For Military Pilot Trainees
The FAA on Friday proposed eliminating the requirement for military pilot trainees to obtain a third-class FAA medical certificate when they already hold a current U.S. military pilot medical examination. The change would apply to U.S. military trainees and foreign military trainees whose flight training is sponsored by a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. Military pilots have been allowed to use qualifying military medical examinations in place of a third-class certificate for certain civil ... read more
Solairus Could Manage Over 500 Private Jets After Clay Lacy Deal
FLYING Magazine San Francisco Bay Area-based Solairus Aviation could see more than 500 jets under its control after agreeing to purchase the management and charter units of Clay Lacy Aviation. On Friday, Solairus formally announced the agreement and said the added scale would help manage costs, improve pricing, and expand access for customers. The company predicted negotiations would be finalized by the end of next month, until which time the firms will continue operating ... read more
Robinson Sells 5,000th R44 Raven II
Robinson Helicopter Company announced Friday that it has sold its 5,000th R44 Raven II, more than two decades after introducing the four-seat piston helicopter. The milestone aircraft was purchased by Robinson dealer ARICA in Ecuador. “The delivery of the 5,000th R44 Raven II is a testament to the lasting trust operators around the world place in Robinson,” company President and CEO David Smith said in Robinson’s announcement. The R44 entered production in 1993, and Robinson introduced the ... read more
Catalina Plans Vero Beach Engineering Center
Catalina Aircraft Company announced Aug. 6 that it plans to establish an Engineering and Technology Center in Vero Beach, Florida, to support development of its Catalina SPAR amphibious aircraft. The company says the facility will house its aircraft design team while also providing engineering and testing resources to other aerospace and technology companies. Shared Test Infrastructure Plans for the center include a scale wind tunnel, a wave tank for hull and hydrodynamic testing, 3D ... read more
This 1978 Bellanca 8KCAB Decathlon Is a Tactile, Aerobatic ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1978 Bellanca 8KCAB Decathlon. There is a lot of enthusiasm for taildraggers in the general aviation community these days, driven in part by the continuing boom in backcountry and STOL flying. Tailwheel skills also ... read more
AI Flies X-62 VISTA Live-Target Intercepts
The U.S. Air Force said Tuesday that its X-62 VISTA experimental aircraft completed 27 AI-controlled intercepts during eight flights at Edwards Air Force Base in April. During the tests, an artificial intelligence agent used live infrared sensor information to autonomously maneuver the aircraft against a T-38 target. From Sensor To Flight Controls The HAVE HEAT test program used Lockheed Martin’s Legion Pod, an infrared search-and-track sensor carried by the X-62. The sensor tracked the ... read more
Utah Begins Real-World Hybrid-Electric Aircraft Demonstrations
FLYING Magazine The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has launched real-world demonstrations with a hybrid-electric aircraft, which Thursday morning flew close to 250 miles from Salt Lake City to Cedar City. Utah residents who missed the landmark flight need not worry. UDOT said it was the “first of several” hybrid-electric demonstrations to come over the next three years under a new FAA program. The aircraft involved was California-based Ampaire’s hybrid-electric EEL testbed, which ... read more
Land the CAF Warbird Crew Ultimate Summer Job
FLYING Magazine You know it’s summer when the Commemorative Air Force starts making rounds across the country, bringing its magnificent and rare World War II aircraft to airports and selling rides. There is hardly a pilot out there who at least once has not been envious of the flight crews who travel around the U.S. in these rare warbirds. Many wonder how to land what may be the ultimate summer job for the WWII aviation enthusiast. This Article First Appeared in FLYING ... read more
Electric Air Taxis Could Soon Land in Dallas-Fort Worth
FLYING Magazine Electric air taxis may be just a few months away from touching down in Dallas-Fort Worth. California-based Joby Aviation on Thursday said it leased 45,000 square feet at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport (KAFW), part of the 27,000-acre AllianceTexas development owned by real estate developer Hillwood. The airport is part of the AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone, which per its website gives operators access to complex airspace, an FAA control tower, and rail and ... read more
Arizona Senators Seek Changes To Phoenix Flight Path Plan
Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego on Aug. 5 asked the FAA to revise its Phoenix Area Modernization Project before implementing new flight procedures. The proposal covers Phoenix Sky Harbor International and several surrounding airports, including changes that would affect general aviation, turboprop and small commuter aircraft. “While we share the goals of ensuring a safe and efficient airspace in the Phoenix area, we are concerned that the FAA’s proposed flight procedure changes ... read more
Joby Sets September Start for Texas eIPP Flights
Joby Aviation said Wednesday that it expects to begin flights in Texas next month under the federal eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). The company is also targeting its first passenger operations under the program before the end of the year. The company also announced Thursday that it has leased 45,000 square feet at Alliance Air Trade Center in Haslet, part of Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport. The company said the facility will serve as its North Texas base for eIPP flights ... read more
Should I Pay Cash for My Aircraft?
FLYING Magazine I stood with the Diamond Aircraft team at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 watching a ceremonious signing for a new twin engine DA62. The gentleman could not have beamed brighter as he shook hands with the Premier Aircraft Sales representative next to the sleek contours that epitomize the glider based frame of the DA62. This buyer had waited all summer for the chance to sign this purchase agreement at AirVenture. He was not the only one. During the week, I saw Cirrus sell three ... read more
Vance Schedules T-1A Jayhawk Sunset Events
Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma will hold T-1A Jayhawk sunset events Aug. 21-22 as the Air Force retires the twin-engine trainer. The 3rd Flying Training Squadron organized the two-day program for former pilots, maintainers and other personnel connected to the aircraft. The Air Force introduced the T-1A 34 years ago to prepare pilots for airlift and tanker assignments. Training Heavy-Aircraft Crews The T-1A is a military version of the Beech 400A business jet. Its cockpit seats an ... read more
This 2019 Zenith CH 750 Cruzer Is an Adventurous ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2019 Zenith CH 750 Cruzer. Celebrated for its exceptional short takeoff and landing (STOL) characteristics and panoramic outward visibility, the Zenith CH 750 Cruzer has long been a favorite for true backcountry ... read more
Hill Runs First Clean-Sheet British Helicopter Turbine in 60 Years
Hill Helicopters said Wednesday that its first GT50 prototype reached self-sustaining operation during a July 20 test, marking the first time the engine ran under its own power. The company describes the GT50 as the first helicopter turbine engine designed, manufactured and developed entirely in Britain since the 1960s. Hill intends to use the engine in its five-seat HX50 helicopter. Initial Runs Hill said engineers first checked the lubrication, cooling, ignition and instrumentation ... read more
Merlin Advances Autonomous Flight System Toward Certification
Merlin announced Thursday that it has completed the third Stage of Involvement review for two components of its Merlin Pilot autonomous flight system. The Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand reviewed the platform’s Flight Control Computer, which directs the aircraft’s flight path, and the Automated Communication System, which interprets spoken air traffic control instructions and generates responses. The communications system can convert instructions involving heading, altitude and ... read more
FAA Adopts New AD for Diamond DA42
FLYING Magazine The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the Diamond DA42 to address occurrences of uncommanded rudder deflection caused by a cracked nose landing gear (NLG) hydraulic actuator rod end. According to the agency, this could lead to failure of the NLG actuator and interference with the rudder control system, forcing the rudder into left-hand deflection. The FAA action follows an emergency AD issued in June by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). ... read more
Best Helicopter Pilot Jobs in Alaska
FLYING Magazine Editor’s note: The following article is not intended to be a ranking, but is only to serve as a list of possible options. As the saying goes, your mileage may vary. The Alaskan wilderness is a beautiful place to call home and working above it offers even more spectacular views. Being a helicopter pilot in Alaska can come with many perks but it also entails flying in some dangerous terrain. Here, FLYING examines Alaska-based helicopter pilot jobs that stand out as having ... read more
FAA Targets Boeing 737 Passenger Seats Over Safety Concerns
FLYING Magazine The FAA has released a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for an airworthiness directive (AD) aimed at tens of thousands of seats on Boeing 737s because they may have been installed incorrectly and could come loose in severe turbulence. FLYING obtained a copy of the proposed AD, which affects 453 Boeing model 737-8, 737-9, and 737-8200 airplanes. “This proposed AD was prompted by a report that certain passenger seat assemblies were not correctly installed in the seat ... read more
Cleveland Business, Aviation Groups Rally Support For Burke Lakefront Airport
A coalition of Cleveland businesses, aviation professionals and students is urging city leaders to keep Burke Lakefront Airport (BKL) open, arguing the downtown facility remains an important economic asset, transportation link and training resource for the region’s aviation workforce. Aug. 4 letters submitted by business leaders and aviation professionals highlight different aspects of the airport’s value. Local companies argue that Burke provides direct access to downtown Cleveland and ... read more
Colorado’s Centennial Airport Hangar Rent Dispute Heads to Court
A group of pilots at Colorado’s Centennial Airport has taken its fight over steep hangar rent increases to court, escalating a dispute that has drawn the attention of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and aviation advocacy groups. The lawsuit stems from a series of administrative complaints filed earlier this year after tenants at the Denver jetCenter FBO were notified that monthly rent for the airport’s “Town Hangars” would increase from $660 to $1,200 beginning April 1. Tenants ... read more
FAA Examines Loss of Separation Involving Marine One Near D.C.
FLYING Magazine The FAA is investigating a loss of separation involving a commercial airliner and a military helicopter carrying President Donald Trump. According to the agency, Trump’s Marine One helicopter took off from the White House Tuesday afternoon, and air traffic controllers at nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) did not halt commercial traffic as required under a policy created last year after the midair collision between a military helicopter and an American ... read more
Bipartisan Senate Bill Targets Airport Surface Safety
U.S. Senators are pushing new bipartisan legislation aimed at reducing runway incursions by improving airport vehicle training and expanding the use of surface safety technology. The Runway Surface Awareness and Focused, Effective Training and Technology (Runway SAFE-T) Act, introduced Tuesday by Sens. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), follows a series of high-profile runway incidents, including the March accident at New York’s LaGuardia Airport in which a landing ... read more
This 2004 Vulcanair P.68C Is a Rare ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2004 Vulcanair P.68C. Distinguished by its high-wing design and unencumbered pilot visibility, the Vulcanair P.68C is highly regarded as an exceptional cross-country platform for both personal and family use. The ... read more
Military GPS Jamming Under Scrutiny In Fatal New Mexico Medevac Accident
A military GPS jamming exercise is drawing renewed attention after new reporting suggested it may have contributed to the May accident of a Beechcraft King Air in New Mexico that killed four people. The accident remains under investigation, and no official probable cause has been determined. According to the report, the twin-engine aircraft was flying from Roswell to Ruidoso when it encountered GPS interference during an electronic warfare exercise near White Sands Missile Range. The crew ... read more
Report: B-52 Modernization Program Faces Key Hurdles
FLYING Magazine The U.S. Air Force faces cost overruns, schedule delays, or performance issues for the majority of its 13 programs aimed at modernizing the B-52 bomber, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Researchers found that 10 projects face at least one of these issues, including those aimed at upgrading the B-52’s engines and radar, which are contending with all three. According to GAO, the engine and radar efforts have an estimated price tag of $18 million, or ... read more
FAA Investigates Marine One Separation Near DCA
The FAA is investigating a possible loss of required separation Tuesday between Marine One and an Envoy Air regional jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Flights at Reagan National had not been suspended before the presidential helicopter departed. President Donald Trump was aboard Marine One, and both aircraft completed their flights without further incident. Aircraft Movements Marine One departed the Ellipse near the White House at approximately 2:33 p.m. for Joint Base ... read more
How to Request a Transition Through Class D Airspace
FLYING Magazine Question: I am a new-hire CFI who just started flying at an airport near a Class D facility. The school CFIs teach you should take the long way around the Class D airport when flying in the local area rather than asking for permission to transition the airspace. A few said a previous CFI told them student pilots aren’t allowed to transition to the Class D. I haven’t found any documentation on this. Is there some special rule about student pilots and Class D that I’m just ... read more
Chart Wise: Rangeley Lake Seaplane Base (M57) RNAV (GPS)-C
FLYING Magazine There aren’t many approaches in the IFR system that let a pilot fly an instrument procedure that doesn’t terminate on land, but this one does. This approach brings a pilot to the northern port of Rangeley Lake in Maine. This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine If you're not already a subscriber, what are you waiting for? Subscribe today to get the issue as soon as it is released in either Print or Digital formats. Subscribe ... read more
Wildfires Near Spokane Threaten Key Airports
FLYING Magazine The wildfires burning in Spokane, Washington, are within a few miles of three major airports—Fairchild Air Force Base (KSKA), Spokane International (KGEG), and Felts Field (KSFF). A weather briefing from Leidos Flight Service depicts the fire temporary flight restriction (TFT) a few miles to the north of the airports. The fires, which started on Saturday afternoon, have so far forced the evacuation of some 67,000 people. The commander of the 92nd Air Force Refueling Wing ... read more
Elixir, Turbotech Move Turbine Trainer Toward Certification
Last month, Elixir Aircraft and Turbotech signed a memorandum of understanding to move the Elixir Turbine beyond its demonstrator phase and into industrial development. The July 22 agreement covers production integration, continued aircraft development and preparations to certify the turbine-powered trainer. Certification Programs Planned Elixir and Turbotech said they plan to launch certification programs through EASA and FAA. The companies are targeting entry into service by 2030. The ... read more
FAA Awards $870M for Airport Infrastructure Improvements
FLYING Magazine The FAA announced Tuesday that it is awarding 339 grants totalling $870 million to airports in 44 U.S. states and territories. The funding comes from the fifth and final $2.89 billion installment of the agency’s $14.5 billion Airport Infrastructure Grants (AIG) program, established in 2022 by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Fiscal year 2026 (FY26) marks the conclusion of the AIG program. Tuesday’s announcement marked the eighth set of airports to receive AIG ... read more
Congress Targets AAM Certification Timelines
Congress moved last month to advance legislation intended to make the FAA’s certification process more predictable for advanced air mobility aircraft. The Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act would require the agency to publish a certification plan and expected time ranges for major steps in the review process. On July 22, the Senate Commerce Committee advanced S. 3885 by voice vote. Companion legislation, H.R. 7553, has been introduced in the House. Public Plan and ... read more
Joby Teams With Ex-Uber CEO to Build Air Taxi Vertiports
FLYING Magazine Manufacturer Joby Aviation, which recruited several veterans of Uber to help develop its eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) air taxi service, will work with the rideshare platform’s co-founder to build a new network of takeoff and landing sites. Joby on Tuesday announced a strategic partnership with Atoms, led by Uber co-founder and former CEO Travis Kalanick, to acquire and develop vertiport sites across the U.S. The vertiports would give the company’s air taxi ... read more
NBAA Seeks Data on Bahamas Retroactive Operator Fees
The National Business Aviation Association said Monday it is organizing an advocacy effort over retroactive air navigation charges imposed by The Bahamas. NBAA is asking affected operators to share invoice details as it works alongside other industry groups and the U.S. government. Charges Date to Earlier Flights The Bahamas Air Navigation Services Authority introduced its air navigation charging system in 2021. BANSA published a revised rate schedule in April 2024, but according to ... read more
This 2024 Cirrus SR20 G7 Is a More-Than-Modern ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2024 Cirrus SR20 G7. Redefining modern personal aviation, the Cirrus SR20 Generation 7 brings next-level innovation and workload-reducing technology to the cockpit. This premium 2024 airframe boasts a basic empty ... read more
FAA Reviews Cannabis Fitness Standards
Last month, the Transportation Research Board published details of an FAA-funded project to review cannabis use among pilots and air traffic controllers. Current policy already prohibits marijuana use by pilots and other safety-sensitive aviation employees covered by DOT testing rules. Why the FAA Is Studying It The existing rules establish what covered individuals may not do, but the FAA says it lacks validated criteria for determining when impairment has ended after cannabis use. The ... read more
Archer Completes Piloted, Intercity Air Taxi Prototype Flight
FLYING Magazine Electric aircraft developer Archer Aviation provided a rare update on its flight test progress, announcing that a prototype of its Midnight air taxi completed a piloted, intercity flight in California on Thursday. Archer said Monday that the aircraft conducted a round-trip journey between Salinas Municipal Airport (KSNS) and Monterey Regional Airport (KMRY) in “close coordination” with the FAA. The company shared a video depicting an aircraft with the tail number N703AX, ... read more
Carbon Cub UL Flies From Idaho to Poland
A new Carbon Cub UL completed a 94.5-hour delivery flight from Lewiston, Idaho, to Poland, CubCrafters said last month. Owner Zbigniew Dziubas accepted the aircraft in Idaho and selected Gabriel Batkiewicz to fly it to Europe rather than ship it overseas. Weather Shapes the Route The approximately 6,900-nautical-mile trip crossed the U.S., Canada, Greenland, Iceland, the United Kingdom and several countries in continental Europe. Due to deteriorating weather conditions, the flight included ... read more
Teaching Someone to Fly by Osmosis Doesn’t Work
FLYING Magazine The learner was looking for an independent flight instructor. He said it had been years since he flew, and this summer he was determined to finish his private pilot certificate. He had his own airplane, a hangar to keep it in, a student pilot certificate issued some 10 years ago, and a lapsed medical certificate. His flight training had been sporadic at best. He started out at a busy flight school, where the availability of instructors and airplanes limited lessons to twice ... read more
Pilot Executes the ‘Impossible Turn’
FLYING Magazine Night flying has always been where aviation feels the most honest. The distractions fall away, the wind calms, and the world below turns into a quiet, shimmering outline. I have always enjoyed teaching night flying for exactly that reason— students absorb more, stay focused, and experience precisely the kind of disciplined flying that makes them stronger pilots. On January 6 during what should have been a routine night of full-stop pattern work at DeLand Municipal Airport ... read more
First UK-Built Islander in Nearly 60 Years Rolls Out
Britten-Norman has rolled out the first Islander fully manufactured in the U.K. in almost 60 years. According to local reports, aircraft 2317 emerged from the company’s production facility in Bembridge on the Isle of Wight on Friday. Production Returns to Bembridge The aircraft has received its engines, propellers, cowlings, electrical systems, brakes and flight controls. Electrical power has also been applied, and Britten-Norman is preparing the aircraft for ground testing. Britten-Norman ... read more
Rumble Over the Redwoods Returns for Third Annual Airshow
FLYING Magazine Preparations are underway for the third annual Rumble Over the Redwoods airshow at California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport (KACV) in McKinleyville on August 8-9. To mitigate pyrotechnic risks, Dennis Dunbar of organizer Dunbar Airshows said that includes a prescribed grass burn. “Safety is key,” Dunbar said. “We do prescribed burns before most of the shows we do, and we always have [fire] trucks standing by during the pyrotechnics.” The Arcata Fire District is ... read more
Bonanza Safety Group Targets Gear-Up Landings
The American Bonanza Society Air Safety Foundation launched its Put Your Gear Down campaign this month to reduce landing gear mishaps involving Beechcraft Bonanzas, Debonairs, Barons and Travel Airs. The owners group says a Beechcraft retractable experiences some type of gear mishap nearly every week, and rising repair costs mean more damaged airplanes are being written off. Preserving the Fleet “Gear-related accidents are the greatest single threat to the longevity of the ABS fleet,” ... read more
Departing FAA Leader Says Agency Is Being ‘Nudged’ to Embrace Risk
FLYING Magazine The FAA’s departing deputy administrator said Friday that the agency is being “nudged” to embrace “more risk” when it comes to the integration of uncrewed drones. Chris Rocheleau, who is expected to rejoin the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) this week after serving as FAA deputy administrator since July 2025, was speaking at the Commercial Drone Alliance’s (CDA) American Drone Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., before a crowd of drone industry ... read more
First Production Russian Yakovlev MC-21-310 Flies
Yakovlev’s first production MC-21-310 completed its maiden flight Monday from the Irkutsk Aviation Plant in Russia. United Aircraft Corporation described it as the first production aircraft built entirely with domestic-made systems and components. Flight Reached 19,700 Feet The flight lasted 1 hour and 23 minutes. The aircraft reached an altitude of about 19,700 feet and an indicated airspeed of approximately 324 knots, according to the company. Test crews evaluated stability and ... read more
This 1975 Cessna T310R Is a Twin-Engine ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1975 Cessna T310R. Known for its distinct tip tanks and sleek profile, the Cessna 310 series has long been a favorite among multi-engine pilots looking for speed and cross-country capability. This particular ... read more
Allegiant Pilots Ratify Contract With 40% Average Pay Raise
Nearly 1,300 Allegiant Air pilots represented by the Allegiant Pilots Association, Teamsters Local 2118, have ratified a new two-year collective bargaining agreement. The contract passed by an 80% margin, and 99% of eligible pilots participated in the vote. Pay and Benefits The agreement provides an immediate average hourly wage increase of approximately 40%. The union said total wage increases will reach about 54% by January 2027. Ratification also triggers the payment of approximately ... read more
Archer Midnight Completes California City-to-City Flight
Archer Aviation’s all-electric Midnight aircraft completed a piloted round trip between Salinas Municipal Airport and Monterey Regional Airport on July 30, according to the company. Archer said it coordinated the flights closely with the FAA. Nine-Minute Flights Each leg between the two California airports took about nine minutes. The company compared that time with a drive of 35 minutes or more between Salinas and Monterey. “This roundtrip journey is exactly the kind of route we plan to ... read more
From Pioneering Turboprop to Timeless Performer: The TBM 700’s Lasting Legacy
FLYING Magazine The open cabin door and airstair beckoned. On a cloudless July morning in 2014, with temperatures rising steadily through the 80s, this inviting sight drew me and my two sons, aged 10 and 7, from the comfortable shade of a hangar and onto the sun-drenched ramp for a closer look. We had arrived early to a major fly-in at Plymouth Municipal Airport (KPYM) in Massachusetts with plans to check out the new aircraft on display ahead of the crowd. This Article First ... read more
Alaska Awaits Flight Sim Pilots on MSFS2024
FLYING Magazine I want to share a sim flight that took me deep into one of the most scenic locations on the globe. It’s a region that still heavily relies on general aviation to connect rural communities in the real world—Alaska. The idea was born out of watching my friend and content creator Steve Thorne (@FlightChops on YouTube) train to fly Apex Alaska’s authentic DHC-2 Beaver. Thorne’s video series introduces viewers to the joys and challenges of seaplane flying during a beautiful ... read more
Air Force CCA Aircraft Move Into Early Production
The Air Force’s two Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) contractors have begun moving beyond production-representative test aircraft and into early manufacturing. Anduril completed its first Ohio-built Fury on July 27, while General Atomics said production of its FQ-42A was already underway. First Fury Completed in Ohio Anduril assembled the aircraft at its Arsenal-1 facility in Pickaway County, southeast of Columbus. According to JobsOhio, the first aircraft took 126 days to complete. The ... read more
F-35 Involved in Serious Accident in San Diego
FLYING Magazine Authorities at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego are investigating the possible crash of a F-35 assigned to the 3rd Marine Air Wing, Marine Air Group 11. Imagery taken by a local television news helicopter shows a scorched airplane surrounded by blackened ground. The pilot was able to eject. READ MORE: Marine Corps Retires Harriers READ MORE: F-35 Breaks Delivery Record in 2025 Base officials have referred to the event as an “aircraft mishap.” It took place ... read more
UK Plans for BVLOS Drone Airspace Sharing
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) published a concept Thursday for integrating routine beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) drone operations into airspace used by crewed aircraft. The Airspace Architecture Concept of Operations describes a future operating model and does not immediately create new requirements or privileges. Moving Beyond Reserved Airspace Many current BVLOS operations in the UK rely on temporary danger areas, reserved airspace or individual agreements between drone ... read more
NASA’s First New Wind Tunnel in 40 Years
NASA opened the Flight Dynamics Research Facility on Friday at its Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. The agency’s first major new wind tunnel in more than 40 years will allow researchers to test scale models of aircraft, rockets, drones, parachutes and atmospheric-entry vehicles. New Testing Capabilities “The Flight Dynamics Research Facility is NASA’s first major new wind tunnel in more than 40 years and gives us a powerful new platform to test the ideas and technologies that ... read more
NTSB: Overweight Aircraft, Severe Icing Caused Fatal Bering Air Crash
FLYING Magazine The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has cited an overloaded aircraft, poor airspeed management, and severe icing conditions as causal factors in the February 2025 crash of Bering Air Flight 445 near Nome, Alaska, which killed all 10 people on board. In releasing its final report on the accident Thursday, the NTSB said the Cessna 208B Caravan was on the final leg of a scheduled commuter flight to Nome when it crashed onto pack ice about 12 miles offshore of ... read more
Cosmic Unveils Four-Seat Electric Airplane
Cosmic Aerospace on Wednesday unveiled Cosmic One, a proposed four-seat electric airplane that the Colorado company plans to certify under the FAA’s MOSAIC rules. Centennial Flyers, a Colorado flight club that operates 42 aircraft, is the first announced U.S. launch customer. Cosmic also opened reservations for the first 100 aircraft. Six-Motor Design The electric airplane is designed around six independent electric propulsors embedded in its wing. Cosmic is aiming for a 250-knot maximum ... read more
Wisk, NASA Test Single Ground Operator for Three Autonomous Aircraft
Wisk Aero and NASA have completed a simulation that evaluated whether one ground-based supervisor could oversee three autonomous aircraft at the same time. The supervisor coordinated with air traffic controllers, who handled the simulated flights through existing ATC procedures as the simulated aircraft operated alongside conventional traffic. Bay Area IFR Routes The exercise connected Wisk’s Autonomy Lab in Mountain View, California, to NASA’s Future Flight Central simulation facility at ... read more
This 1980 Piper PA-3R-301 Saratoga SP Is a Commodious, Comfortable ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1980 Piper PA-32R-301 Saratoga SP. In general aviation, comfortable passengers, with elbow room and extra space to stretch their legs, tend to be happy passengers. They are less nervous about flying and more likely ... read more
What $700K in Income Couldn’t Fix
FLYING Magazine A big paycheck isn’t the same as a solid financial plan. That’s the lesson two high-earning airline pilots learned the hard way, and it’s the subject of a new free case study from Allworth Airline Advisors, “The $700K Question: Why High-Income Pilots Need Advanced Financial Planning.” The case study follows Hannah, an accomplished commercial airline captain in her late 50s, and her husband, Cliff, a retired military pilot now flying as a commercial first officer in his ... read more
Triumph to Tragedy: Columbia’s Silent Warning
FLYING Magazine In 2003, aviation stood on the cusp of a remarkable milestone—the centennial of powered flight. From the fragile wooden ribs of the Wright Flyer at Kitty Hawk to the supersonic roar of the F-16 and thunder of Saturn V rockets, humanity’s march into the skies had unfolded with astonishing speed. The space shuttle, in many ways, embodied the culmination of that first century. It was both spacecraft and airliner, rocket and glider, the Swiss Army knife of aerospace ... read more
G700 Claims Los Angeles-Farnborough City-Pair Record
Gulfstream said Thursday its G700 completed a flight from Los Angeles to Farnborough, England, in 8 hours and 27 minutes, claiming a new speed record for the city pair. The aircraft averaged Mach 0.91 during the flight. G700 Tops Recent Global 8000 Flight The trip came shortly after Bombardier announced that a Global 8000 had flown the same route in 8 hours and 46 minutes. Bombardier said its aircraft reached Mach 0.93 and improved on the previous city-pair mark by 2.2%. Business-jet ... read more
NTSB Cites Airspeed, Weight in Bering Air Accident
The NTSB said in its final report that inadequate airspeed management and operation above maximum weight led to the February 6, 2025 Bering Air Flight 445 accident near Nome, Alaska. The Cessna 208B Caravan impacted pack ice about 12 miles offshore, killing the pilot along with nine passengers. Airspeed Decreased During Descent While descending toward Nome Airport, the Bering Air flight encountered severe icing conditions, including supercooled large droplets. Both runways at the airport ... read more
Environmentalists Condemn ‘Obscene’ FAA Space Licensing Proposal
FLYING Magazine The FAA on Thursday published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would boost space launch providers such as SpaceX and Blue Origin by neutralizing environmental laws. The agency’s proposed 14 CFR 400.3 would reduce the time and cost required for commercial providers to obtain launch licenses, effectively facilitating an explosion in commercial space activity. It would do so by waiving their requirements to comply with 13 laws including the ... read more
Citation CJ3 Gen3 Begins Flight Testing
Textron Aviation said Wednesday that its Cessna Citation CJ3 Gen3 prototype completed its first flight, moving the light jet into flight testing ahead of planned FAA certification. Test pilots Steve Helmer and Dave Welbrock departed Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport and concentrated on cockpit software during the flight. The aircraft reached 41,000 feet and 278 knots indicated. Certification Testing Begins “Comprehensive flight testing will now begin for this aircraft with ... read more
Wisconsin Aviation Community Mobilizes for Tornado Relief Efforts
FLYING Magazine A week ago pilots and aviation enthusiasts in Wisconsin were using social media to share information about EAA AirVenture 2026 in Oshkosh. Now those same channels are being utilized to organize tornado recovery efforts for the residents of Winnebago County, especially in Menasha, located about 23 miles to the north of Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH). According to Dick Knapinski, director of communications for the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), the organization on ... read more
Lydian Raises $43 Million for Synthetic SAF
Boston-based Lydian announced a $43 million Series A funding round to support development of synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF). The financing was led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures and will support the company’s PIVOT platform, which is designed to produce synthetic jet fuel from carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Lydian says the system uses standardized, factory-built modules intended to reduce construction costs and respond to changes in renewable-electricity availability. The ... read more
Cessna’s Next-Generation CJ3 Prototype Makes Debut Test Flight
FLYING Magazine All three of Textron Aviation’s next-generation Cessna Citation light jets are now in flight testing. Textron said Wednesday that its first CJ3 Gen3 prototype aircraft recently made its debut test flight, joining the company’s other two forthcoming light jets, the M2 Gen3 and CJ4 Gen3. “Comprehensive flight testing will now begin for this aircraft with rigorous validation of its performance as we continue to work toward FAA certification and entry into service,” Chris ... read more
Final Unleaded Avgas Transition Plan Is Here
The FAA released its final Transition Plan to Unleaded Aviation Gasoline on Thursday, outlining a four-phase process intended to move the U.S. piston fleet away from 100LL. The 72-page document responds to an unleaded avgas requirement in the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act and retains the goal of eliminating leaded avgas use by the end of 2030 outside Alaska. The state would receive an additional two years due to its unique set of fuel-distribution and operational challenges. This final ... read more
This 2024 Diamond DA50 Is a Luxurious ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2024 Diamond DA50. Designed to elevate the flying experience from a mere A-to-B journey into an indulgent adventure, the DA50 combines European design flair with serious cross-country capabilities. It boasts a roomy ... read more
How DoorDash Plans to Build Drone Delivery Business
FLYING Magazine Low-altitude airspace is about to get busier as food delivery platform DoorDash throws its full weight behind drone delivery. The delivery platform unveiled an in-house drone delivery program, DoorDash Air, that it said will be operated by drones it is developing itself. DoorDash since 2024 has used drones from partners Wing, Flytrex, and Manna to offer the service in parts of Virginia, North Carolina, Texas, and Georgia. On Wednesday, though, the company said it obtained ... read more
Pilot and A&P: The Dual-Certificated Edge
FLYING Magazine One of the adages of aviation is the more certificates you hold, the more employable you become. This is particularly true if you hold one for Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) in addition to being a pilot. At the FBO level, the A&P who holds a pilot certificate and maintains currency is always in demand. Sometimes, that person didn’t intend to become a pilot but after taking flight in a small airplane decided it is something they’d like to do. It was that way for ... read more
Inside MTSU’s Aerospace Program
FLYING Magazine Oshkosh draws pilots, mechanics, and manufacturers from every corner of the industry. But for one week each July it also becomes something of a recruiting ground for the schools training the next generation of aviation professionals. Middle Tennessee State University brought students, faculty, and its provost to this year’s EAA AirVenture to walk through what has become one of the largest collegiate aerospace departments in the country. Jamail Larkins, founder of ... read more
How Student Pilots Can Overcome Navigation Anxiety
FLYING Magazine Question: I am a low-time CFI, and I have just inherited a student who has a major fear of getting lost while flying to and from the practice area. He’s about six hours into the training, and he gets lost in the pattern. He is often glued to ForeFlight or the panel-mounted GPS in the airplane. How do I get him to look out the window? Answer: A learner who becomes lost on a VFR day concerns me too. I have seen this once or twice because the learner was distracted by the ... read more
Army Restores Solo Cross-Country Helicopter Training
Army flight students at Fort Rucker, Alabama, have resumed instructor-free cross-country helicopter missions under a revised curriculum designed to build independent flight-management experience. The change restores student-led flights through the national airspace system after roughly 25 years, although shorter local solo exercises continued during portions of that period. The updated curriculum, introduced by the 1st Battalion, 223rd Aviation Regiment, adds a two-week cross-country ... read more
Joint Base Charleston Could Be Renamed for Lindsey Graham
FLYING Magazine South Carolina’s Joint Base Charleston could be renamed Joint Base Lindsey Graham in a tribute to the state’s late senator, who died earlier this month. Multiple sources reported this week that Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink ordered base staff to take “all necessary and appropriate actions” toward converting the installation’s name to Joint Base Lindsey Graham, according to an internal memo dated Monday. Meink reportedly cited Graham’s “decades of distinguished ... read more
ATP Flight School Shortens Training Timeline
ATP Flight School has shortened the published timeline for its Airline Career Pilot Program by 25 percent, citing improved FAA checkride availability and efforts to reduce delays in the training process. The school said students entering the program with no previous flight experience can now complete their training in about nine months. Those who have completed their first solo flight can finish in as little as seven months, ATP said, while students who already hold a private pilot ... read more
Boeing’s Air Force One Program Faces Another $280 Million Loss
Boeing has taken another $280 million hit on its delayed program to replace the two aircraft that serve as Air Force One, according to the company’s second-quarter earnings report released Tuesday. The latest charge brings Boeing’s total estimated losses on the program to about $2.8 billion since the company signed a contract with the U.S. government in 2018. The Air Force is replacing its two aging VC-25A presidential aircraft with modified Boeing 747-8s, designated VC-25Bs. The first ... read more
This 1962 Mooney M20C Mark 21 Ranger Is a Refreshingly Classic ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1962 Mooney M20C Mark 21 Ranger. Few designs in general aviation history squeeze as much performance out of 180 hp as Al Mooney’s legendary M20 line. Known affectionately as the Ranger, the M20C established Mooney’s ... read more
Heart Aerospace Aims to Field Hybrid-Electric ES-30 by 2031
FLYING Magazine Following a recent FAA flight test authorization, Los Angeles-based Heart Aerospace is now targeting 2031 for the type certification of its ES-30, a 30-seat, hybrid-electric regional airliner. Simon Newitt, Heart’s former president and chief commercial officer who now works for Beta Technologies—another electric aircraft developer—told Aviation International News in 2024 that the company was targeting European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification for the ES-30 ... read more
FAA Proposes Streamlining Commercial Space Licensing
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing changes intended to speed up the approval process for commercial rocket launches, spacecraft reentries, and the operation of launch and reentry sites. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the proposal on Tuesday which would give the agency greater flexibility to waive certain environmental and natural-resource requirements when reviewing commercial space licenses and permits. The FAA said the changes are aimed at eliminating ... read more
ATP Flight School Slashes Check Ride Wait Times
FLYING Magazine Fewer things are more detrimental to a pilot’s training than a check ride delay. Waiting weeks, sometimes even months, for the practical test is frustrating and can greatly increase the cost of the certificate acquisition, as you need to keep flying on a regular basis to maintain proficiency. ATP Flight School on Tuesday announced it has reduced the check ride wait time for its clients, resulting in a quicker completion of its Airline Career Pilot Program. According to a ... read more
Supersonic Flight’s New Golden Age Getting Closer
FLYING Magazine Between 1975 and 2003, more than 2.5 million passengers traveled at twice the speed of sound on 14 Concorde airliners produced by the British Aircraft Corporation and Sud Aviation. No paying customer has broken the sound barrier since. “I assumed I would do it by buying a ticket, not by building an airplane,” said Boom Supersonic CEO Blake Scholl, who founded the commercial jet developer in 2014. “For 10 years, I had a Google News alert set on ‘supersonic,’ because I ... read more
Merlin, IAI Explore Autonomy for Cargo Aircraft
Autonomous-flight developer Merlin and Israel Aerospace Industries announced last week that they have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore artificial intelligence-based systems for commercial cargo aircraft. The preliminary agreement establishes a framework for joint engineering and certification work, though the companies have not signed a definitive commercial contract. Phased Development Plan The planned work includes market research, engineering collaboration, regulatory ... read more
Tornado Strikes Near Oshkosh After AirVenture
FLYING Magazine The devastating tornado that touched down Monday in communities just north of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has generated a lot of discussion about the timing of the event. The tornado touched down north of Oshkosh in Appleton around noon CDT and tore a wide path of destruction through the city and the towns of Menasha and Neenah. Just 24 hours earlier the area was filled with people leaving EAA AirVenture, the annual fly-in aviation convention held at Wittman Regional Airport ... read more
Electra Selects Ohio For EL9 Factory
Electra announced last week at the Farnborough International Airshow that it has selected Springfield, Ohio, for its first EL9 Ultra Short production facility. The company plans to invest $850 million in the project and create 1,975 jobs at the 96-acre site next to Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport. Construction Planned For 2027 “Electra is opening a new era of aviation, one where flight is direct, accessible, and closer to the communities it serves,” Electra CEO Marc Allen said in the ... read more
Bombardier Delivers 200th Challenger 3500
FLYING Magazine Bombardier this week said it delivered its 200th Challenger 3500 less than four years after the model entered service, making it one of the most popular business jets to hit the market in recent years. The manufacturer in a news release Monday said it made the 200th delivery to Piero Ferrari, vice president of the Italian automaker that shares his surname. Bombardier said the Ferrari executive will use the jet for travel to Formula One races and other business ... read more
MTSU Takes Delivery of Its 41st Diamond Aircraft
FLYING Magazine Every July, the flight line at Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) becomes the epicenter of general aviation, and every year, Middle Tennessee State University shows up. This year’s EAA AirVenture Oshkosh was no different. This time, though, the university’s Department of Aerospace had something specific to celebrate—the delivery of its 41st Diamond aircraft, a milestone two decades in the making. “It is my honor to hand you the key to your 41st Diamond DA40 aircraft,” a ... read more
Restoring Right Stuff Can Build Student Pilot Confidence
FLYING Magazine The first solo is usually a confidence builder for the learner. No professional CFI is going to endorse you for solo flight unless you’ve done all 15 of the items listed under cFAR 61.87, and you can consistently perform them to a safe standard as outlined in the syllabus and/or the published Airman Certificate Standards. That being said, post-solo there may be some times when you as a student pilot question your abilities—everyone can have a bad day in the cockpit. A ... read more
Longmont Weighs Airport Noise, FAA Funds
Longmont, Colorado, held a town hall Monday, July 27, to explain the city’s legal authority over aircraft noise at Vance Brand Municipal Airport. Airport attorney John Putnam discussed federal limits on locally imposed curfews, operating restrictions and noise-related fees. Noise Review Follows Resident Complaints The meeting was part of a noise-improvement project launched in April. The review covers flight patterns, aircraft operations, noise exposure and Longmont’s voluntary ... read more
24-Hour Flight: Qantas’ Airbus A350-1000ULR Sets New Benchmark
FLYING Magazine An Airbus A350-1000ULR this week spent more than 24 hours in the air on a nonstop flight from Melbourne, Australia, to Toulouse, France, setting unofficial records for distance and endurance by a commercial airliner. Airbus said Tuesday morning that the ultra-long-range A350-1000 variant landed in Toulouse after a 24-hour, 24-minute eastbound journey spanning 12,460 nm, or more than 23,000 km. The widebody airliner flew the “wrong way” from Australia rather than the shorter ... read more
Textron Says Newer Workforce Weighing on Jet Deliveries
Textron said Tuesday that workforce experience is a central factor in production problems at Textron Aviation. The aircraft manufacturer delivered 40 jets during the second quarter, down from 49 a year earlier. Commercial turboprop deliveries rose from 34 to 44 aircraft. Half the Workforce Has Less Than Five Years “We must become more efficient at meeting that demand,” Textron CEO Lisa Atherton said during Tuesday’s earnings call. Atherton said an earlier increase in employee attrition has ... read more
This 1965 Beechcraft S35 Bonanza Is a Thoroughly Equipped ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1965 Beechcraft S35 Bonanza. With its unmistakable V-tail silhouette, the Beechcraft Bonanza has long been celebrated in the general aviation community for its impressive speed, sturdy construction, and exceptional ... read more
EAA AirVenture Sets Yet Another Attendance Record
FLYING Magazine EAA AirVenture 2026 set an attendance record this year with approximately 734,000 attending the event billed as the “World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration,” according to the Experimental Aircraft Association. That beat the record set in 2025 by 30,000. “While it’s gratifying to see a record attendance total again this year, which is a credit to our dedicated volunteers, staff, and partners, our goal each year is not to chase numbers but to showcase EAA’s community and share ... read more
NTSB Presses Congress for DCA Safety Bill
On Monday, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) urged Congress to complete aviation safety legislation arising from the January 2025 midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The House and Senate passed separate measures, but lawmakers began their August recess without reaching agreement on a final bill. The NTSB called for Congress to reconcile the legislation and hold a vote when lawmakers return in September. Competing Safety Bills The Senate ... read more
Hybrid-Electric Altitude Milestone Headlines GE’s Busy Farnborough
FLYING Magazine GE Aerospace was busy at the recent Farnborough International Airshow, where it announced a high-altitude electric aviation milestone and other achievements. On July 20, GE said it conducted the first hybrid-electric aircraft flight above 30,000 feet, demonstrating the viability of novel propulsion at an altitude occupied by commercial airliners. Across multiple tests, the company said it achieved a long flight under hybrid operation of more than two hours. GE is developing ... read more
FAA Plans Updated Unleaded Avgas Roadmap
FAA Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau said during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Thursday that the agency plans to issue a revised roadmap for the transition from 100LL to unleaded avgas. The FAA has not announced a new deadline and published materials continue to identify 2030 as the national target and 2032 as the target for Alaska. “In the coming weeks we’re going to issue a new roadmap to kind of reset,” Rocheleau said. He added that the FAA would not follow an arbitrary date unless it ... read more
Loganair Wants to Introduce Europe’s First All-Electric Fleet
FLYING Magazine Scotland’s Loganair at the Farnborough International Airshow signed a term sheet that could see the regional airline—the U.K.’s largest—introduce commercial electric aircraft to Europe by 2029. Loganair this past week agreed to purchase five Alia CX300 aircraft from Vermont-based Beta Technologies, with options for five more, that it aims to field before the end of the decade. The companies in a news release said the agreement “will ensure” that LoganAir is Europe’s first ... read more
Archer, Anduril Self-Flying Aircraft Could Serve as ‘Loyal Wingman’
FLYING Magazine California-based Archer Aviation and Anduril have unveiled an autonomous, hybrid-electric, runway-independent aircraft platform—one the partners believe could handle commercial cargo operations or serve as a “loyal wingman” for crewed fighter jets, among other uses. Archer CEO and founder Adam Goldstein in a statement described the new platform, built around the manufacturer’s powertrain and vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) technology, as the “most sophisticated vertical ... read more
Saab Lands $1 Billion GlobalEye Order
Saab announced Monday that it received an order for two GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft from an undisclosed Middle Eastern country. The contract is valued at 10.1 billion Swedish kronor, or about $1.04 billion, and calls for both aircraft to be delivered in 2030. Saab said it will not identify the customer due to national security considerations. Business Jet Platform GlobalEye uses aircraft from Bombardier’s Global 6000/6500 family as its platform. Saab installs its ... read more
FAA Clears Heart X1 For Flight Testing
The FAA issued an experimental special airworthiness certificate for Heart Aerospace’s X1 demonstrator last week, allowing the company to begin flight testing at Plattsburgh International Airport in New York. Heart announced the authorization Thursday and said the FAA reviewed the aircraft, supporting documents and proposed test operations before issuing the certificate. X1 Nears First Flight The authorization follows a ground-test program that covered the aircraft’s structure, propulsion ... read more
Bombardier Delivers 200th Challenger 3500
Bombardier said Monday it has delivered its 200th Challenger 3500 business jet to Piero Ferrari, vice chairman of Ferrari. The company said Ferrari will use the aircraft for travel to Formula One races and other business engagements. The delivery comes less than four years after the Challenger 3500 entered service in 2022. According to Bombardier, the model has recorded more deliveries than any other business jet in the medium and heavy categories since its first full year of deliveries in ... read more
Autonomous, VTOL Aircraft Tech Debuts at Oshkosh, Farnborough
FLYING Magazine This year’s EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and the U.K.’s Farnborough International Airshow lived up to their reputations as they showcased novel aircraft technology that could one day become normalized. Boston-based Merlin Labs provided a possible glimpse of the future at Oshkosh, landing its autonomous Cessna 208B Grand Caravan on Wittman Regional Airport’s (KOSH) Runway 27 on July 17, it said. CEO Matt George in a statement said Merlin believes the autonomous ... read more
This 1965 Cessna 150F Is a Ready-to-Fly ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1965 Cessna 150F. The Cessna 150 has trained more pilots than almost any other aircraft in history, earning its reputation as a reliable, economical, and forgiving platform. This 1965 150F model offers an outstanding ... read more
FAA Sets Radio Altimeter Upgrade Deadlines
The FAA has signed a final rule requiring aircraft operating in the contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., to use radio altimeters that meet new interference-tolerance standards. Part 121 aircraft and larger foreign airliners must comply by Dec. 30, 2030. Most other affected aircraft have until Oct. 31, 2034. Part 135 And GA Included The later deadline applies to radio-altimeter-equipped aircraft operating under Part 91 and includes operations conducted under Parts 125, 133, 135, ... read more
Inside Denver’s Wings Over the Rockies: A Treasure Trove of Aerospace
FLYING Magazine A good air museum is a treasure for pilots—a great one is a treasure for everyone. The Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, with its separate 15-acre Exploration of Flight campus, qualifies as a great air museum. The Denver facility is a treasure that celebrates our military and civilian aerospace history, the myriad people who made it happen and, welcoming the future, uses forward-looking technology in teaching how to be involved in what’s to come in aviation and ... read more
Boulder Council Member Resigns Over Airport Vote
Boulder City Council member Mark Wallach resigned immediately after the council voted 8-1 to continue operating Boulder Municipal Airport and pursue additional FAA funding. Wallach had supported retaining the option to close the airport and redevelop its 179-acre site after the city’s current federal obligations expire. Council Approves Airport Measure The council approved the measure after adding a requirement that members review the city’s next FAA grant application. Council members ... read more
Sling Announces MOSAIC-Compliant 2M Trainer
Sling Aircraft North America has announced the Sling 2M, a version of its Sling NGT trainer developed to meet the new MOSAIC light-sport aircraft standards. The company says production aircraft are ready to ship, and customer deliveries are scheduled to begin in August. The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of 1,540 pounds and a useful load of more than 600 pounds. Sling says the additional capacity allows the aircraft to carry two adults, a whole-airframe parachute and fuel for more ... read more
When Is Flight Training Actually Tax Deductible?
FLYING Magazine BROUGHT TO YOU BY FLYING FINANCE Every tax season, FLYING Finance sees a version of this question trend in searches and our inbox: “Can I write off financing for a type rating (or an instrument rating, or recurrent training)?” It’s a fair question, and an expensive one to get wrong. Flight training isn’t cheap, and the difference between a fully deductible business expense and a personal expense you’re paying for with after-tax dollars can run into thousands of dollars a ... read more
Photos From Oshkosh: Spartan 7W Executive
FLYING Magazine A Spartan 7W Executive in the morning sun at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. The pilot departed AirVenture on Friday. Below, video shows the Spartan taxiing out. [Credit: Meg Godlewski] Read More read more
This 1994 Steen Skybolt 250 Is a Nimble, Back-to-Basics ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1994 Steen Skybolt. You just do not see Skybolts every day. The airplane, which high school teacher Lamar Steen originally conceived as a project for his students, has long been a favorite among builders, but it has ... read more
11 Survive After Kenmore Air Floatplane Crashes in Washington State
FLYING Magazine All 11 people aboard a Kenmore Air floatplane survived after the aircraft crashed Thursday near Sucia Island in the San Juan Islands in Washington state. A boater caught the approach of the de Havilland DHC-3 Otter on video. The aircraft comes in low over the water, crossing from left to right in the frame, the wings rocking slightly. The aircraft goes out of frame to the right behind terrain, and a loud crash is heard. The video picks up again from another angle and shows ... read more
Pipistrel Unveils Voyager Trainer, Lands Launch Customer With Up to 50 Aircraft
Pipistrel introduced a new two-seat training aircraft designed to give flight schools more capability in a single platform, with Epic Flight Academy signing on as the launch customer with plans to acquire as many as 50 aircraft. The Pipistrel Voyager made its public debut Monday at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026. The aircraft is expected to enter service in 2027 and was developed with anticipated changes under the FAA’s Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) framework ... read more
King Schools Awards Latest Scholarships
FLYING Magazine John and Martha King have been teaching the world to fly for more than 50 years. Over the past decade, King Schools has been actively supporting deserving pilots through its scholarship program. To date, some 21 scholarships have been awarded, and the latest recipients were announced on Thursday at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Thomas Sando from the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) and Jodie Gawthrop of Women in Aviation International (WAI) received ... read more
Continental Expands Warranty Coverage For Certified and Overhauled Engines
Continental Aerospace Technologies is expanding warranty coverage for its certified AvGas engines and overhauls, giving aircraft owners additional protection on new, rebuilt and factory-overhauled engines, the company announced Monday. The changes, effective July 20, apply to eligible certified AvGas engine orders shipped on or after that date. New engines will now carry warranty coverage for three years or until reaching TBO, whichever comes first. Coverage for factory-rebuilt engines ... read more
What You Need to Know to Create an IFR Approach
FLYING Magazine It was November in Seattle. The ceiling had been going up and down all morning. A pilot was heard on the unicom asking for a runway advisory—he was still 6 miles out. Although he was instrument rated, and the airplane was IFR equipped and legal for instrument flight, he chose to divert to a nearby airport and have his wife pick him up. The reason? The airport lacked a published instrument approach. He was not the first pilot to have this experience. This Article ... read more
Photos From Oshkosh: Illustrations on an Airplane
FLYING Magazine The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) teamed up with Scheme Designers on a publicity wrap for its next giveaway airplane, a Piper Archer. At EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, artist Noah Heckel used acrylic markers to draw on the plastic wrap that covers the aircraft and took requests from the crowd. Kids asked for Batman and Snoopy. Temporary illustrations on a Piper Archer at AirVenture [Credit: Meg Godlewski] The plastic wrap will be removed after AirVenture, and the ... read more
FAA Debuts New Tool for Digital Departure Clearances
FLYING Magazine The FAA is moving forward with the development and rollout of a new digital tool that will allow general and business aviation pilots to request departure clearances through approved flight applications instead of via radio. FAA Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau unveiled the new system, known as “Mobile Clearance,” during a presentation at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh on Thursday. The agency said the tool is part of its ongoing effort to modernize communications between pilots ... read more
This 1964 Piper PA-28-235 Cherokee Pathfinder Is a Well-Conditioned ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1964 Piper PA-28-235 Cherokee Pathfinder. When Piper sought to match the payload and power of the Cessna 182 Skylane, it strapped a massive 235 hp Lycoming O-540-B2B5 engine onto its proven Cherokee airframe. The ... read more
Piper Aircraft Secures New Fleet Order From ATP Flight School
FLYING Magazine Piper Aircraft and ATP Flight School will come home from EAA AirVenture with a firm fleet order for six new training aircraft, with options for 25 additional airplanes in 2027. ATP, one of the world’s largest Piper training fleet operators, said during Monday’s formal announcement at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, it will take delivery of three new Piper Archer TX aircraft within 30 days, and three Piper Seminoles will follow in 2027. “ATP’s unmatched investment in aircraft and fleet ... read more
Senate Panel Advances Bill Requiring FAA Medication Guidance For Pilots
A bipartisan bill aimed at giving pilots clearer information about which medications they can take without jeopardizing their medical certification is moving forward in the U.S. Senate. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation advanced the Aviation Medication Transparency Act (S. 3258) on July 22. The legislation, introduced by Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and John Hoeven (R-N.D.), would require the FAA to create and publicly maintain a list of medications that ... read more
Pratt & Whitney Canada Begins Ground Testing Of Hybrid-Electric Propulsion System
Pratt & Whitney Canada has begun ground testing a flight-standard hybrid-electric propulsion system that is expected to take to the air aboard a modified Dash 8-100 in 2027. The testing is taking place at the company’s facility in Longueuil, Quebec, as part of the RTX Hybrid-Electric Flight Demonstrator project. Once ground testing is complete, the propulsion system will be installed on the experimental aircraft for flight testing. The system pairs a Pratt & Whitney Canada thermal ... read more
ICON Aircraft To Resume A5 Production In 2027 With New Safety Technology
ICON Aircraft plans to resume production of its A5 amphibious light-sport aircraft in 2027, with a new safety system designed to help pilots avoid landing-gear configuration errors, the company announced during EAA AirVenture. ICON Sense, a new flight safety system developed with Avilution and Skytron Avionics, is designed specifically for the A5 and addresses the risks associated with operating an aircraft that can land on both runways and water. The system is intended to provide pilots ... read more
Photos From Oshkosh: Blackstar Flight Simulator
FLYING Magazine Attendees tried out the Blackstar Eclipse Advanced Aviation Training Device at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh on Wednesday. Instead of needing an entire room for an AATD, the Blackstar system is mounted on casters, allowing the unit to be moved more easily. The client wears a virtual reality headset for an immersive experience. The Blackstar Eclipse Advanced Aviation Training Device at AirVenture [Credit: Meg Godlewski] Read More read more
Centennial Tribute to Retrace Historic Flight of ‘Spirit of St. Louis’
FLYING Magazine As May 21, 2027, approaches—the 100th anniversary of Charles Lindbergh’s historic solo flight across the Atlantic—the Lindbergh Foundation is launching a once-in-a-century tribute. To mark the centennial, the foundation on Tuesday at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, announced it is organizing an exclusive, six-day private jet expedition (May 15-22) that will retrace the legendary route from St. Louis to Washington, D.C., New York, and finally, Paris. Lindbergh’s ... read more
Zenith Introduces New CH 750 Super Cruzer at AirVenture
FLYING Magazine The next incarnation of the Zenith CH 750 has officially been unveiled to the public at EAA AirVenture in the form of the prototype CH 750 Super Cruzer. During Tuesday’s unveiling, the company noted the prototype was flown to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, from the Zenith factory in central Missouri. The Zenith Super Cruzer is a tricycle-gear, all-metal, high-wing design, described by the company as a cross-country cruiser, featuring roomy side-by-side seating with a rear jump seat. ... read more
DeltaHawk-Powered Seminole DX Begins Flight Testing
DeltaHawk Engines said this week that the Piper Seminole DX has entered active flight testing following its first flight earlier this month. The development aircraft uses two 180-horsepower DeltaHawk compression-ignition engines that operate on Jet-A. Initial Test Results The first flight went for about 30 minutes and took place in 91-degree temperatures at 88% humidity. DeltaHawk said it calculated the density altitude at approximately 3,500 feet and said the aircraft had an initial climb ... read more
Merlin Completes Autonomous Landing At EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
Merlin says it completed what the company believes is the first autonomous landing of a conventional fixed-wing aircraft in EAA AirVenture Oshkosh history, demonstrating its AI-powered flight technology before the crowds during the annual aviation event. The landing took place July 17 at 10:02 a.m. CDT on Runway 27, with a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan equipped with Merlin’s Merlin Pilot autonomy system. According to Merlin, the flight represents a step toward moving AI-based autonomy beyond ... read more
This 2001 Beechcraft King Air B200 Is a Fully Refurbished ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2001 Beechcraft King Air B200. Widely recognized for its unmatched blend of payload, comfort, and rugged versatility, the Beechcraft King Air series has long been the gold standard in the twin-turboprop market. This ... read more
New Statue Commemorates WWII ‘Triple Ace’ at Oshkosh
FLYING Magazine One of the missions of Warbirds of America is to educate future generations about the actions of military pilots during times of war. One way to do that is to create monuments to remember them. On Tuesday, July 21, the group unveiled a statue to honor Brigadier General C.E. “Bud” Anderson, one of America’s “triple aces” during World War II, in the warbirds section of the EAA AirVenture grounds at Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Anderson died in May ... read more
Lycoming Extends TBO To 2,600 Hours For Several Piston Engine Families
Lycoming Engines is extending the recommended time between overhauls (TBO) for a broad range of its piston aircraft engines, giving eligible operators hundreds of additional hours before a scheduled overhaul. This week the company announced that the base TBO for a large majority of its factory-new and rebuilt fixed-wing engines is increasing to 2,600 hours, an increase of 400 hours from the previous 2,200-hour standard. Lycoming said the change is intended to reduce operating costs and ... read more
Just Tell the Story: Aviation Does Not Need Empty Hype
FLYING Magazine Years ago, at a former airline job, I worked with a senior leader who had a simple phrase for moments when we had to share complicated information with executives, union leaders, or other stakeholders: “Just tell the story.” It was not an invitation to embellish. It was the opposite. It meant start with the facts. Explain what happened. Give the full context. Do not hide from the uncomfortable parts. Do not bury the lede. Do not assume the audience cannot handle the ... read more
ALPA, NATCA, FAA Call for $20B to Complete ATC Modernization Push
FLYING Magazine Officials from the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), and the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization (ATO) convened at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh on Tuesday to call for an additional $20 billion to complete the Trump’s administration’s ongoing air traffic control (ATC) system overhaul. “DOT and FAA leadership have been clear that finishing this job, replacing hundreds of aging ATC facilities, deploying modern surveillance ... read more
Bristell Plans Garmin AXIS Installations
Bristell announced Friday that it is developing Garmin AXIS installations for several aircraft in its lineup. The company plans to offer the system in its Classic models beginning in the fourth quarter of 2026. B23-family installations are expected during the second quarter of 2027. Integrated Avionics Garmin introduced AXIS earlier this month as a family of integrated flight displays for certified, experimental and light sport aircraft. Certain 11.6-inch configurations combine primary and ... read more
This 2007 Cirrus SR20 G2 Is an Accessible ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2007 Cirrus SR20 G2. In the 21st century, the Cirrus SR20 changed expectations for personal aircraft with its sleek, composite design and built-in safety features, thrusting general aviation into a new era. This ... read more
Vintage Aircraft and Replicas at AirVenture
FLYING Magazine Taking a morning walk down in the Vintage Aircraft area at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is like walking through the pages of an aviation book, or a movie magazine. In addition to numerous beautifully restored aircraft, there are some with a special story to tell. Replica of Douglas World Cruiser ‘Seattle II’ A replica of the Douglas World Cruiser ’Seattle II’ [Credit: Meg Godlewski] One of the larger single-engine aircraft in Vintage is the replica of the Douglas World Cruiser ... read more
Pratt & Whitney Canada Kicks Off Ground Testing for Hybrid-Electric Demonstrator
FLYING Magazine Pratt & Whitney Canada has begun ground testing of the RTX Hybrid-Electric Flight Demonstrator program. The flight-standard propulsion system and propeller is being put through its paces in Longueuil, Quebec. According to the company, following completion of the ground test, the hybrid-electric propulsion system will be installed on the de Havilland Canada Dash 8-100 experimental aircraft. The first flight is expected in 2027. READ MORE: Pratt & Whitney Plans ... read more
EAA Young Eagles Reaches 2.5 Million-Flight Milestone
The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) has officially reached its goal of flying 2.5 million Young Eagles by EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026. Young Eagles Chairman Jimmy Graham shared the milestone on X, marking a major achievement for the program, which launched in 1992 to introduce young people to aviation through flights with volunteer pilots. The 2.5 millionth flight was part of EAA’s “Mission 2.5” campaign, which set the goal of reaching the milestone by AirVenture 2026. The effort ... read more
Federal Audit Finds Gaps In Aviation Cybersecurity Oversight
A federal audit has found gaps in how the U.S. government oversees aviation cybersecurity, including unclear responsibilities at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and incomplete implementation of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) cybersecurity strategy. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released its report July 16 after reviewing the FAA and TSA’s roles in protecting aviation systems. The review found that the agencies face challenges implementing ... read more
Pilots Must Be Prepared for ‘Unacceptable Stall Behavior’
FLYING Magazine It is a truth universally acknowledged that when an airplane stalls, the pilot must push its nose down. And yet it sometimes happens that even quite experienced pilots do the opposite. That was the case in February 2024, when two airline transport pilots, who had a combined total of more than 23,000 hours in their logbooks, conducted a post-maintenance stall check on a Hawker Beechcraft 900XP. The stall check is required after the leading edges of the wings have been ... read more
2026 Diamond Aircraft Buyers Guide
FLYING Magazine Diamond Aircraft doesn’t have a single flagship story the way some manufacturers do. It has a design philosophy that happened to outlive an ownership change, a jet program, a recession, and a continent-spanning corporate restructuring. Somehow, the manufacturer kept building safer, more efficient airplanes the entire time. Understanding how that philosophy came to be, and how it’s been refined generation after generation, is the real starting point if you’re shopping the ... read more
Photos From Oshkosh: PBY Steals the Show
FLYING Magazine The PBY belonging to the American Heritage Museum in Hudson, Massachusetts, stole the show down in warbirds on Monday. Approximately 5,000 of the aircraft were built, and the one on display is a very early model. Close-up on the PBY’s star round [Credit: Meg Godlewski] If you take a good look at the round on the nose, you can see that it once had a red dot in the center of the star. That feature was painted over after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor because it could ... read more
Photos From Oshkosh: Sunrise on Day 1
FLYING Magazine EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Day One begins with sunrise at the Brown Arch. The paving stones that lead to the arch are in memory of loved ones with a connection to aviation. Read More read more
Win a Restored J-3 Cub in the JRBAF’s Newest Charitable Raffle
FLYING Magazine Aviation enthusiasts have a chance to win one of three restored J-3 Cubs in the 2026-27 Jim Richmond Backcountry Aviation Foundation (JRBAF) charitable raffle, with the foundation covering all federal income tax withholding for the winners. Honoring the legacy of CubCrafters founder Richmond, the raffle supports JRBAF’s mission to expand and preserve public backcountry aviation access across the western U.S. Tickets are $50 each, and every entry provides three opportunities ... read more
This 1961 Mooney M20B Is a Vintage ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1961 Mooney M20B. Celebrated among aviators for delivering impressive speed on a budget, the short-body Mooney M20B holds a special place in the hearts of cross-country pilots. This classic 1961 model provides a ... read more
Overwhelmed at AirVenture? ‘Ask KOSH’ Helps Visitors Plan Their Time
FLYING Magazine Aircraft brokerage company Aerista has rolled out a new AI-powered tool to help visitors navigate EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. “Ask KOSH,” billed as the “official, unofficial AirVenture companion,” provides information about the weather, vendors, and events at AirVenture, which is now underway at Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) in Wisconsin. Visitors can ask questions, view an all-in-one map of the grounds, and build a personal itinerary for the day. There is also a “notes” ... read more
FAA Allows Boeing To Resume New Aircraft Certifications
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has restored Boeing’s authority to issue airworthiness certificates for newly produced 737 MAX and 787 aircraft following an eight-month safety review that found consistent production quality results. The decision, effective July 20, allows Boeing’s Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) unit to resume issuing certificates at the end of the production process for all 737 MAX and 787 airplanes. The FAA had previously limited Boeing’s authority ... read more
Boeing Forecasts Need For 674,000 New Pilots
Coinciding with the start of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026, Boeing released its annual Pilot and Technician Outlook, projecting the global aviation industry will need more than 2.4 million new pilots, technicians and cabin crew members by 2045. According to the forecast, the industry will need 674,000 new commercial pilots, 728,000 maintenance technicians, and 1,023,000 cabin crew members to fly and maintain the global commercial aviation fleet over the next 20 years. Boeing said resilient ... read more
Dynon Expands SkyView HDX IFR Package
Dynon announced several SkyView HDX upgrades for EAA AirVenture 2026, led by a remote audio panel and expanded support for dual communications radios. The additions will complement the company’s recently announced integrated IFR GPS navigation system, which will use a remote-mounted module in certified and experimental SkyView HDX installations. Dynon says the system will support LPV approaches, on-screen flight planning and coupling to the Dynon autopilot. Pricing and availability have ... read more
Seaplane Bases That Really Make a Splash
FLYING Magazine Seaplane flying is widely regarded as one ultimate way of experiencing aviation. Flying off the water is a uniquely rewarding experience, offering a sense of freedom, access to breathtaking landing sites, and a level of tranquility rarely found in other forms of aviation. The Seaplane Pilots Association (SPA) is the primary organization focused on this special segment of aviation and catalogs seaplane flying opportunities, training, and background information on its ... read more
Flying in the Heat? Don’t Overlook the Human Factors
FLYING Magazine In ground school pilots learned how high elevation, hot weather, and high humidity can degrade an aircraft’s performance. But they probably didn’t pick up much about what those conditions do to the pilot. If taught at all, it was likely through trial and error. If only there was an easier way, and now there is. The Sizzling Summer Safety Series by psychologist, speaker, and commercial pilot Jolie Lucas walks you through this human-factors minefield. Lucas’ three-part series ... read more
This 1975 Cessna 310R Is a Spacious, Fast, and Refreshened ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1975 Cessna 310R. There is something so appealing about taking the controls of a light piston twin. Mastering the added complexity of operating two engines is satisfying, as is the speed with which the aircraft for ... read more
T-7A Completes First Joint Test Sortie
The U.S. Air Force said Thursday it has completed the first T-7A Red Hawk sortie involving both developmental and operational test aircrew. The June 25 flight at Edwards Air Force Base, California, positions the service to begin combined testing as it prepares the advanced jet trainer for operational use. Combining Test Programs The flight placed a 412th Test Wing developmental test pilot and an operational weapon systems officer from the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center’s ... read more
Runway Closure at Thun Field Forces Scramble for Local Operators
FLYING Magazine Facing a critical four-month shutdown starting July 27, tenants and flight schools at Pierce County Airport-Thun Field (KPLU) in South Hill, Washington, are rushing to relocate as the facility begins a $7.18 million federally funded project to replace its aging runway. “[Runway 17-25] is reaching the end of its lifespan and needs to be reconstructed to remain operational,” said Trent Smith, airport manager with the Pierce County Planning and Public Works Department. “This ... read more
Chattanooga Airport Control Fight Continues
Tennessee officials and Chattanooga leaders are fighting over who controls Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport after a new state law changed how its governing board is appointed. The result is an existing locally appointed board and a new state-appointed board that both claim authority over the airport. State Takes More Seats The law took effect July 1 and applies to airport authorities in Chattanooga, Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville and the Tri-Cities region. The governor and the speakers of ... read more
Swift Plans Seven-Engine 100R Testing at FAA Technical Center
Swift Fuels said Friday that it plans to expand FAA testing of its 100R unleaded aviation gasoline to seven high-performance piston engines. The company said the engines are being prepared for evaluation at the FAA’s William J. Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Technical Center Evaluation Swift said it entered into a memorandum of understanding with the FAA effective May 1. The agreement gives the company access to engines managed by the Technical Center and allows 100R ... read more
Bill Targets Slackline Hazards to Low-Flying Aircraft
A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced legislation Thursday that would require the FAA to review federal policies covering temporary obstructions in low-altitude airspace. Sens. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and John Curtis, R-Utah, introduced the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act alongside House sponsors Reps. Cliff Bentz, R-Ore., and Val Hoyle, D-Ore. FAA Review and Deadlines The bill would give the FAA six months after enactment to assess whether existing marking and lighting ... read more
$800K ‘Boom Prize’ Challenges Amateurs to Build Supersonic Airplanes
FLYING Magazine Famed U.S. Air Force aviator Chuck Yeager was the first to exceed the speed of sound in 1947, flying a rocket-powered Bell X-1. Nearly 80 years later, $800,000 in prize money is up for grabs for the first to break the sound barrier with an amateur-built, air-breathing aircraft. Boom Supersonic CEO Blake Scholl last week announced the “Boom Prize,” challenging armchair engineers to build a radio-controlled airplane that exceeds Mach 1. The winner will receive $750,000 in ... read more
House Bill Targets Foreign-Adversary Ownership Of GA Companies
Reps. Pat Harrigan of North Carolina and Ryan Mackenzie of Pennsylvania introduced legislation Thursday that would increase federal oversight of investments in U.S. general aviation companies by entities connected to designated countries of concern. The General Aviation Protection Act, designated H.R. 9707, cites more than 20 acquisitions, investments or joint ventures involving U.S. aircraft manufacturers, avionics companies, engine producers and training organizations since 2005. The ... read more
Air Taxi Firms Plan Tesla-Like Network of Electric Aircraft Chargers
FLYING Magazine Tesla revolutionized electric automobiles by building thousands of interoperable chargers that it opened up to the broader industry. A pair of air taxi manufacturers aim to do the same for electric aircraft. Thursday marked the launch of America’s Consortium for Electric Skyways (ACES), a collaboration between electric aircraft developers Archer Aviation and Beta Technologies to stand up as many as 250 air taxi operating sites by 2030. That would entail the installation of ... read more
Administrator Goes In Depth on the FAA’s Next Act
FLYING Magazine Bryan Bedford took over leadership of the FAA in July 2025 after a long career in commercial aviation, including senior roles at Republic Airways and Frontier Airlines. He is an instrument-rated pilot, an aircraft owner, and one of the few recent agency leaders to arrive in Washington, D.C., with direct experience in both a general aviation cockpit and the airline C-suite. Some in aviation may also remember him from an appearance on reality TV’s Undercover Boss, a fitting ... read more
Wildfire Smoke Clouds Oshkosh Arrival Plans
FLYING Magazine Smoke from wildfires may delay some arrivals into EAA AirVenture Oshkosh this year. The air quality map from AccuWeather shows a smoke plume from Canada, which is experiencing a record number of wildfires, reaching the Midwest and stretching to the Northeast. Conditions range from moderate and poor to unhealthy and dangerous. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Fire Management dashboard, as of Thursday afternoon, there are 673 wildfires burning in ... read more
Redbird Unveils G1000 NXi Emulator, Enhanced Simulator Panel
Redbird Flight announced a series of software and hardware upgrades for its aviation training devices on Tuesday. The first releases include a new G1000 NXi software emulation and an interchangeable instrument panel known as the E001 Enhanced Aircraft panel. Updated NXi Software The G1000 NXi emulation is scheduled for release Aug. 17. Redbird said the software was developed from the ground up and offers improved graphics, faster processing and additional functions for training in ... read more
FLYING Magazine Announces 2026 Editors’ Choice Award Winners
FLYING Magazine For nearly a century, FLYING Magazine has evaluated the tools, aircraft, and technologies that define general aviation. The 2026 Editors’ Choice Awards identify the products our editorial team, all pilots themselves, believe represent the highest standard in their respective categories. Winners were evaluated on four criteria—real-world utility, quality of execution, innovation, and relevance to GA pilots. Judging was conducted entirely by FLYING’s editorial panel, which ... read more
Garmin Introduces G2000 PRIME
Garmin announced the G2000 PRIME integrated flight deck Thursday for high-performance Class I and II piston and electric aircraft. The system uses an all-touchscreen interface and incorporates technologies introduced through the company’s G3000 PRIME platform. Larger Touchscreen Displays The flight deck includes 14-inch primary display units that use edge-to-edge, sunlight-readable glass. Garmin said the displays offer more than twice the processing power of earlier systems and system ... read more
Lightspeed Adds Rotax-Specific Audio Profile to Delta Zulu Headset
FLYING Magazine One of the challenges for pilots who fly multiple aircraft is finding a headset that works well with the powerplant. Lightspeed Aviation, one of the industry leaders in customizable headsets, is now offering the first Rotax-specific audio and automatic noise reduction (ANR) profile for the Lightspeed Delta Zulu model. According to Lightspeed, as part of this collaboration, the Rotax-optimized profile will be available as part of the Rotax Care program for Rotax 912 iS/c, ... read more
This 2015 CubCrafters Carbon Cub SS Is a Rugged ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2015 CubCrafters Carbon Cub SS. Renowned for combining classic Cub DNA with modern engineering, the Carbon Cub SS delivers the kind of performance that turns every takeoff into a thrill. Built with ultralight ... read more
Chicago Approves $150 Million Midway Investment
The Chicago City Council approved lease agreements Wednesday expected to support at least $150 million in private investment at Midway International Airport. The agreements cover Atlantic Aviation and Signature Flight Support, the airport’s two fixed-base operators. “Midway is a gateway to Chicago, and a powerful economic engine to the communities thatsurround it,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “This investment reflects our commitment tobuilding a stronger, more modern city while ensuring ... read more
The Two-Hangar Generation: What Successful Pilots Fly When No One’s Watching
FLYING Magazine The longer I am in aviation, the more I find two-hangar pilots. These are the ones that have the business jet on limited charter with the management company, and a second hangar at the local airstrip. It is the second hangar that catches my attention, because it is the aircraft in that second hangar that sparks the eye twinkling smiles and the rascally grins. The second hangar is not always as brightly lit or even as big, but it is where you find the aircraft the owner ... read more
Sporty’s Becomes Authorized Distributor of Jeppesen ForeFlight Education Tools
FLYING Magazine Sporty’s Pilot Shop, a powerhouse provider of aviation supplies and educational support, has announced a new partnership with Jeppesen ForeFlight. Sporty’s will now distribute aviation education products for pilots who wish to use the technology to its fullest capacity. According to Sporty’s, the company now offers a broad portfolio of Jeppesen ForeFlight education products, including a plethora of resources such as training manuals, test guides, syllabi, logbooks, books, ... read more
Aviation Coalition Seeks $20 Billion More For ATC Overhaul
The Modern Skies Coalition asked congressional leaders Wednesday to provide another $20 billion for the FAA’s air traffic control modernization program. The coalition said the money would build on an initial $12.5 billion allocation and help complete projects across the National Airspace System. “As Congress considers possible legislation to provide additional resources for important national priorities, we urge you to allocate $20 billion for closing the funding gap for the Brand-New Air ... read more
Redbird Elevates Flight Simulator Fidelity With New Avionics Upgrades
FLYING Magazine One of the best aspects of Redbird Flight Simulations’ aviation training devices (ATDs) is that with a change of the plexigas instrument panel and a swap out of the throttle quadrant you can be flying a different airplane. Those aircraft are about to become more realistic as Wednesday Redbird introduced an evolution of its flight deck software and hardware, bringing new high fidelity to the users of Garmin G1000 NXi avionics. Over the past 20 years there has been an ... read more
Austin Aircraft Owners Face Nearly $2 Million In Unpaid Taxes
Aircraft owners in Travis County, Texas, are facing nearly $2 million in delinquent property taxes, according to a list published by the Travis County Tax Office. The 20 aircraft-related accounts have outstanding balances totaling approximately $1.98 million, with individual debts ranging from tens of thousands of dollars to more than $300,000. Several owners owe more than $100,000 in unpaid taxes. The largest delinquent account carries a balance of nearly $339,000, while another ... read more
Cape Air COO Andrew Bonney Tapped to Lead Kenmore Air
FLYING Magazine Andrew Bonney has been named CEO of Kenmore Air, one of the nation’s oldest continuously operating seaplane airlines. Bonney comes to Kenmore Air after serving as chief operating officer of Massachusetts-based Cape Air. Kenmore Air is based in Washington state and serves the markets of Seattle’s Puget Sound area and British Columbia. Bonney starts in the new position in August to learn the ropes before fully transitioning into the role in September. According to a statement ... read more
Long Beach Considers General Aviation Landing Fee Options
Long Beach Airport officials are exploring whether the airport can implement landing fees for general aviation aircraft, with the Airport Advisory Commission scheduled to receive a legal briefing on the issue this week. The discussion, highlighted by the Long Beach 4th District Blog, follows questions from commissioners about whether the airport’s existing fee structure could be expanded to include privately operated aircraft. The issue has also drawn attention from some Long Beach ... read more
This 1969 Beechcraft Baron 55 Is a High-Utility ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1969 Beechcraft Baron 55. Renowned for harmonizing performance with rugged reliability, the Beechcraft Baron series remains a premier choice for pilots stepping up to a multi-engine aircraft. This 1969 Baron 55 ... read more
Textron Brings New CJ3 Gen2, King Air to Oshkosh
Textron Aviation will bring two of its newest special-edition aircraft to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026, with the Cessna Citation CJ3 Gen2 and Beechcraft King Air 360 Crimson Edition scheduled to make their show debuts, the company announced Tuesday. The aircraft will be part of Textron Aviation’s expanded AirVenture display featuring Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, and McCauley Propeller products. The company said the exhibit will showcase aircraft ranging from piston singles and gliders to ... read more
NASA, Boeing’s Wisk Aero Make Self-Flying Aircraft Breakthrough
FLYING Magazine Boeing’s eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) air taxi unit Wisk Aero believes it has made a breakthrough in testing that it is conducting with NASA under a five-year Space Act agreement. Wisk said Wednesday that it simulated the simultaneous orchestration of three uncrewed aircraft, alongside regular air traffic, by a single ground-based supervisor. For autonomous models like Wisk’s Generation 6 air taxi, the ability for one person to remotely oversee multiple ... read more
Lightspeed, Rotax Develop Engine-Tailored Headset Profile
Lightspeed Aviation and BRP-Rotax announced a Rotax-specific Active Noise Reduction and audio profile for the Lightspeed Delta Zulu headset on Wednesday. The setting is designed around the specific acoustic characteristics and cockpit configurations associated with Rotax 912 iS/c, 915 iS/c and 916 iS aircraft engines. Rotax-Tailored Audio Pilots will select either the Rotax setting or Lightspeed’s existing Signature ANR and audio profile through the Lightspeed app. Lightspeed said the new ... read more
Can Cross-Country Diversion Invalidate Your Part 141 Training?
FLYING Magazine Question: I am a Part 141 flight student working on my commercial certificate. I was on the solo long cross-country flight when I had to divert to another airport because of the weather. When I returned to the flight school and told my CFI what I had done, he said the flight would not count because the airport I diverted to isn’t one of the ones we’re authorized to use. How can they take that time away from me? READ MORE: When Is the Best Time to Begin Training for an ... read more
FAA Expands Approval List For Swift Fuels’ 100R Unleaded Avgas
On Tuesday, Swift Fuels announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has significantly expanded the list of piston aircraft eligible to operate on its 100R unleaded aviation gasoline, adding more than 1,200 engine models and 1,600 airframe models through updates to the fuel’s Supplemental Type Certificate (STC). According to the company, the expanded Approved Model List (AML) includes engines from more than 80 manufacturers, including approximately 395 Lycoming models, 195 ... read more
Safran’s Turbogenerator Will Propel Electra’s Hybrid EL9
FLYING Magazine Hybrid-electric aircraft developer Electra on Wednesday announced a “life-of-program” agreement covering the production of turbogenerators for its flagship EL9 Ultra Short. The EL9, designed for operations with only a 150-foot ground roll, will be powered by Safran Helicopter Engines’ TG600, which is built around the latter’s Arrano gas turboshaft engine. Electra said it placed an initial order for 250 turbogenerators. The companies previously signed a deal for Safran, ... read more
Pilots Cherish Many Rites of Passage
FLYING Magazine Milestones in our lives, such as weddings, graduations, religious ceremonies, and significant birthdays usually involve a celebration. But I’d say nearly every pilot looks at their first solo flight as a major rite of passage they never forget. It marks the first time a person realizes they’re truly responsible for their own life. Brush it off or not. It demands a sense of pride. Considerable research (asking my lunch buddies and checking at Sporty’s) confirms the tradition ... read more
The Most Modern Fleet in General Aviation
FLYING Magazine The global aviation industry faces a familiar tension with the promise of revolutionary technology on one hand and the immediate demands of operators, flight schools, and private owners on the other. Italian aircraft manufacturer Tecnam has built its strategy around refusing to choose between the two. In a conversation with FLYING, Giovanni Pascale Langer, Tecnam’s managing director, laid out the company’s vision across three growth pillars: professional flight training, ... read more
uAvionix and Jeppesen’s SkyPlay Brings ForeFlight to Cockpit
FLYING Magazine Pilots tired of translating flight plans, checklists, and charts between electronic flight bags (EFBs) and the instrument panel will soon have reason to rejoice. uAvionix and Jeppesen ForeFlight on Tuesday introduced SkyPlay, a new integration that will embed the popular flight planning platform directly within panel-mounted avionics. Attendees of EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on July 20-26 will have the opportunity to experiment with SkyPlay using interactive, live ... read more
Embraer Unveils Phenom 300EV With Autoland, Other Upgrades
FLYING Magazine Embraer on Tuesday unveiled the newest member of the world’s most popular family of light business jets. As soon as 2028, the manufacturer’s Phenom 300E—the fastest light jet in production—will be joined by an upgraded Phenom 300EV variant, the “EV,” denoting “evolution.” The new model will add 430 pounds of payload capacity, with a projected range of 2,065 nm representing a slight boost over the 300E’s 2,010 nm. Potential city pairs could include Aspen, Colorado, to New ... read more
‘Miracle on the Hudson’ Pilot Sully Sullenberger Diagnosed With Alzheimer’s
FLYING Magazine Sully Sullenberger, the pilot who became a household name after safely landing a disabled US Airways flight on the Hudson River in 2009, has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. In a statement posted on his personal website on Tuesday, Sullenberger, 75, said he is receiving treatment at UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco. “It is early stage,” he said. “For now, this means a name may not come easily to me, I forget a story I have recently told, or I don’t sleep as ... read more
Pentagon To Deploy New Counter-Drone System
CACI International said Monday it has received a Pentagon contract to deploy its SkyValor counter-drone system along the U.S. southern border. The company said the award will move the system into full-rate production, though it did not disclose the contract’s value, the number of systems ordered or a deployment schedule. System Moves From Testing To Deployment SkyValor is a transportable counter-unmanned aircraft system designed to detect, track and stop drones. CACI said the equipment ... read more
This 2007 Diamond DA40-FP Is a Proven ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2007 Diamond DA40. Standing out in the aviation landscape with its aerodynamically efficient composite construction, the Diamond DA40 has cultivated a stellar reputation as a highly capable and forgiving ... read more
Missing Pin Preceded Lufthansa 787 Gear Retraction
German investigators found that the nose landing gear downlock pin was not installed before a Lufthansa Boeing 787-9 retracted unexpectedly at Frankfurt Airport on June 4. The German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation said 23 people were injured, including two seriously, and the aircraft was substantially damaged. Technicians Conducted Maintenance Test The Lufthansa 787 had arrived from Austin, Texas, and was being prepared for a flight to Los Angeles. Two technicians were ... read more
Embraer Launches Phenom 300EV With Emergency Autoland
Embraer announced the Phenom 300EV on Tuesday as the latest version of its single-pilot light business jet. The manufacturer said the “EV” designation stands for “Evolution.” Initial deliveries are expected in 2028. Expanded Safety Systems The Phenom 300EV will include Garmin Emergency Autoland, which can activate automatically or manually following pilot incapacitation and complete an automated landing. Embraer said the Phenom 300EV will be the largest business jet equipped with the ... read more
ForeFlight Adds AI Summaries For NOTAMs
Jeppesen ForeFlight announced today that it will add artificial intelligence-generated summaries of NOTAMs to its mobile and web flight-planning platforms following EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. The ClearNOTAMs feature will display a shorter, plain-language explanation as the primary text for each notice. Pilots can toggle the feature on or off, and are able to expand each summary in order to view the original NOTAM alongside the translation. AI Translation With Source Access ForeFlight said the ... read more
Beyond the Practice Area: Mastering That First Dual Cross-Country
FLYING Magazine The first dual-instruction, cross-country flight is one of the most task-saturating lessons a student pilot can undertake. The flight is likely the longest lesson you’ll have done to date, and it may be the first time you’ve had a lesson outside the practice area. When training is under Part 141, this flight is usually done a lesson or two after the first solo. Part 141 programs also have a list of “approved” airports that they are allowed to fly to. Part 61 doesn’t ... read more
SpaceX Targets Starship Return to Form on Flight 13
FLYING Magazine SpaceX announced it made several hardware and software modifications to its massive Starship rocket as it prepares for what could be the vehicle’s most critical test flight yet. The launch provider said over the weekend it is targeting a 90-minute launch window that opens at 6:45 p.m. EDT on Thursday for Starship Flight 13, which is a precursor to more ambitious missions the company has planned for 2026. SpaceX said the mission will have “similar objectives” to Flight 12 in ... read more
North Texas Offers $1 Million For eVTOL Airport Chargers
The North Central Texas Council of Governments has opened a $1 million funding program for electric-aircraft charging equipment at public-use airports in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. Applications are due Aug. 7 at 5 p.m. CDT. The money was initially approved in September 2024 for a potential advanced-air-mobility demonstration connected to the 2026 World Cup. That plan did not proceed as originally envisioned. Arlington dropped expectations for carrying passengers during the tournament ... read more
U.K. Air Taxi Leader Delays Certification to 2029
FLYING Magazine American Airlines and other carriers who placed conditional orders for U.K. manufacturer Vertical Aerospace’s Valo, an eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) air taxi, will not receive the aircraft until 2029 at the earliest. Vertical—considered the U.K.’s leading air taxi developer by virtue of being one of the only firms conducting routine flight testing—said Monday in a business update that it “re-baselined” its certification program, through which it seeks ... read more
NTSB: NetJets Crew Faced Dual Engine Flameout
Both engines of a NetJets Citation Latitude flamed out during final approach to Laredo International Airport before the airplane landed on a highway June 16, according to the NTSB’s preliminary report. One passenger was killed, a pilot was seriously injured and five people, including a motorist in another vehicle, received minor injuries. Vibration Preceded System Warnings The flight’s crew noticed a low-frequency vibration and humming noise early in the flight from Los Cabos, Mexico, to ... read more
Jeppesen ForeFlight Simplifies Flight Planning With AI-Powered ClearNOTAMs App
FLYING Magazine One of the most challenging parts of being a pilot is gathering “all available information before a flight” as required by regulation. This is especially true when it comes to sifting through information dispersed in the form of Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs). Jeppesen ForeFlight is trying to make obtaining and understanding the information easier with ClearNOTAMs, an app that takes the raw NOTAMs, delivered in all capital letters and abbreviations, and decodes them to allow a ... read more
Oregon Adds Public Drone Training Framework
The Oregon Department of Aviation released a training and testing template July 10 for public agencies that operate drones. This new template provides additional model standards that public agencies may adopt and customize for pilot qualifications, recurrent training and public-safety missions. Training Beyond Part 107 The FAA requires Part 107 certificate holders to complete online recurrent training every 24 calendar months, in an effort to maintain aeronautical knowledge recency. ... read more
This 1966 Cessna 150G Is a Time-Building ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1966 Cessna 150G. Serving as a backbone of flight training for decades, the Cessna 150 has built a legacy of forgiving handling and economic time building. This particular G-model serves as a prime opportunity for ... read more
Pilot Killed In Colorado Firefighting Aircraft Accident
An aircraft supporting the Gold Mountain Fire response was involved in an accident at Silver Jack Reservoir on Sunday. The reservoir is in southwestern Gunnison County, Colorado. The Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office said the accident was reported at about 5:17 p.m. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. Pilot Recovered From Aircraft The Montrose County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team recovered the pilot from the aircraft later Sunday. The pilot was transferred to the ... read more
NTSB Focuses on Engine Generator in Fatal Laredo Citation Crash
FLYING Magazine Pilots aboard the Cessna Citation Latitude that crashed in Laredo, Texas, in June reported detecting an unusual vibration in the aircraft shortly after takeoff from Los Cabos, Mexico (MMSD), according to the preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The aircraft, owned by fractional ownership company NetJets, was heading for Austin, Texas, when the flight crew notified the NetJets flight operations duty manager (FODM) about what they ... read more
We Fly: Magic Carpet Travel With the Cirrus SF50 G3 Vision Jet
FLYING Magazine It was in the middle of a flight to explore the capabilities, handling, and operating envelope of the Cirrus SF50 G3 Vision Jet that it happened. Ensconced at FL 220, a modest height for a jet with a max operating altitude of FL 310, with the features of the Garmin Perspective Touch+ automation gracefully keeping the aircraft in the proper groove in the sky, I finally had time to simply look around and enjoy the experience. My overall impression was that the large flight ... read more
Apache Pilots’ Suspension Lifted After Pentagon Review
FLYING Magazine The Pentagon appears to have intervened to lift the suspensions of eight South Carolina Army National Guard pilots, who were recorded flying AH-64 Apache helicopters low over a crowded beach on the Fourth of July. The pilots were suspended immediately after landing, a source close to one of the airmen told WPDE-TV in Florence, South Carolina. “Effective immediately, the suspension of all involved South Carolina pilots has been lifted,” chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean ... read more
eIPP Flight Operations Begin
The FAA and Transportation Department’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) has begun operational flying. BETA Technologies said Friday that it conducted the program’s first electric conventional-takeoff-and-landing flights using its ALIA CX300 aircraft to transport manufactured organs in Maryland and Virginia. Medical Missions Open Program United Therapeutics took part in the flights alongside BETA and the Multistate Collaborative eIPP National Integration Complex. The missions were ... read more
Gulfstream Tests 100% SAF At 50,000 Feet
Gulfstream Aerospace and Rolls-Royce said this week that they completed a high-altitude flight-test campaign examining the emissions produced by 100% sustainable aviation fuel at altitudes up to 50,000 feet. A Gulfstream G800 powered by Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines conducted the flights alongside a modified G700. The G700 served as an airborne laboratory and measured particulate emissions and atmospheric conditions while flying in close formation. The campaign also marked the first G800 ... read more
FAA Awards Certification Basis for Electra’s ‘Ultra Short’ Hybrid-Electric Aircraft
FLYING Magazine The FAA has approved a set of airworthiness and environmental regulations that will apply to the Electra EL9 Ultra Short, marking a significant step toward the introduction of hybrid-electric aircraft. Electra this week said the agency closed the G-1 issue paper for the EL9, which is intended for operations out of soccer field-sized spaces requiring only 150 feet for takeoff and landing. The approved G-1 establishes a formal certification basis for the aircraft under Part ... read more
FAA Establishes Certification Basis For Electra EL9
Electra announced Friday that the FAA has closed the G-1 issue paper for its EL9 Ultra Short aircraft, formally establishing the certification basis for the nine-passenger hybrid-electric design. The milestone does not constitute type certification but sets the regulatory requirements the company must meet to obtain it. Certification Framework The company submitted its Part 23 type certification application in November 2025. Closing the G-1 issue paper after seven months establishes an ... read more
FAA Seeks Members For Overdue Noise Panel
The FAA published a notice July 10 seeking members for an aircraft noise committee more than six months after the panel’s recommendations were due under a congressional timetable. Nominations for the Aircraft Noise Advisory Committee must be submitted by Aug. 10. Committee Created By Congress Congress directed the FAA to establish the committee within 180 days of the FAA Reauthorization Act’s May 16, 2024, enactment. The FAA chartered the panel Jan. 14, 2025. The law required the committee ... read more
DOT’s 26-State Electric and Autonomous Aircraft Trials Officially Begin
FLYING Magazine The FAA and U.S. Transportation Department’s (DOT) highly anticipated trials of precertified electric air taxis, autonomous cargo drones, and other novel aviation technologies—expected to span at least three years and 26 states—are officially underway. The first operational flights under the agencies’ eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) comprised deliveries of manufactured organs in Maryland and Virginia, conducted using Beta ... read more
Passenger Nearly Ejected After Ryanair 737 Window Fails Mid-Flight
FLYING Magazine A passenger aboard a Ryanair 737 was nearly ejected from the aircraft when the cabin window failed mid-flight. Multiple sources stated the window may have been struck by a piece of the aircraft’s engine, which caused the structure to fail, but the airline has not verified this. The aircraft, operated by Malta Air for Ryanair, took off from the Greek city of Thessaloniki just before 6 a.m. local time on Friday. The flight was heading to Memmingen, Germany. According to a ... read more
Pentagon Lifts Apache Pilot Suspension After Beach Flyover
The Pentagon has lifted the suspension of eight South Carolina Army National Guard pilots who flew four AH-64 Apache helicopters along the state’s coastline during a Fourth of July event. Guard Reviewed Flight Profile The pilots participated in Salute from the Shore, an annual flyover that covers about 187 miles of the South Carolina coast. Videos posted online showed the Apaches flying at low altitude over beaches crowded with spectators. The National Guard temporarily removed the pilots ... read more
Historic Lineup Will Take Center Stage at AirVenture’s Boeing Plaza
FLYING Magazine Boeing Plaza, the large aircraft ramp of the EAA AirVenture showgrounds, becomes the center of the aviation universe in less than two weeks when Oshkosh 2026 gets underway. The fly-in convention runs from July 20-26, and the aircraft on display on the central grounds will likely change day by day. According to the Experimental Aircraft Association, the 2026 lineup features an eclectic mix of modern military aircraft, the latest innovations, cultural favorites, and historic ... read more
This 1976 Piper PA-32R-300 Lance Is a Six-Place, Load-Lifting ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1976 Piper PA-32R-300 Lance. Aircraft manufacturers are known for developing existing models into new ones. Often this method makes more economic sense than embarking on a clean- sheet project. Piper is especially ... read more
Let’s Talk About a La Carte Avionics
FLYING Magazine When my wife agreed to an extensive avionics upgrade to our Piper Arrow, I was pleased that she immediately understood the safety value of the endeavor despite the eye-watering cost. Based on our experience of a vacuum pump failure, an intermittent dual comm failure, and the fact that the entire system was aging, it was time for a change. Avionics shops don’t just install a standard instrument panel template for a 54-year-old airplane. It’s a carefully thought-out strategy ... read more
Are Tech Workers Taking Over Private Aviation?
FLYING Magazine There is a youth movement taking place in the world of private aviation as young technology sector workers benefit from an explosion of growth. In June, SpaceX raised a record $85.7 billion in its initial public offering (IPO), and the company’s valuation now hovers around $2 trillion. The New York Times estimated that around 4,000 SpaceX employees could become millionaires once they sell their stock. Already, some are contemplating ditching commercial travel for luxury ... read more
FAA Makes Contract Tower Hiring Path Permanent
The FAA has made permanent a newer hiring pathway for Federal Contract Tower controllers, adding graduates from FAA-approved Control Tower Operator Partnership schools to the list of candidates eligible for hire by FCT companies. The change appears in FAA Order JO 7210.3EE Change 3, effective July 9, 2026. The order sets FAA policy for facility operation and administration. Contract towers are FAA-funded air traffic control towers staffed by private companies, and many serve smaller ... read more
Aviation Legend Wally Funk Dead at 87
FLYING Magazine Mary Wallace “Wally” Funk, the youngest member of the first “Women in Space Program,” later known as the Mercury 13, died at her home in Grapevine, Texas, on Wednesday night. She was 87. In 1961 Funk at 22 volunteered for the Women in Space program, which was created to train women as astronauts. The program was privately created by physician William Lovelace II and funded by Jacqueline Cochran, who in 1943 created the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs). Cochran felt ... read more
FAA Tried to Block a July Fourth Flyover—NASA Did It Anyway
FLYING Magazine The FAA rejected a request on behalf of NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman to fly his personal, Cold War-era F-5 Tiger II fighter jets over the National Mall in Washington, D.C., as part of celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary. The regulator cited safety concerns. But the space agency found a workaround to the FAA’s objections. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Isaacman said he transferred control of the F-5s—which since January have been used to reward ... read more
AOPA Foundation Adding Maintenance Track To High School Curriculum
AOPA Foundation announced plans Thursday to add an aviation maintenance and manufacturing pathway to its High School Aviation STEM Curriculum, expanding a program that the foundation says has reached more than 130,000 students since its launch in 2016. Maintenance Track Planned The new course path will join the program’s existing pilot, drone and career preparation courses. According to the AOPA Foundation, the maintenance and manufacturing curriculum is being supported by a donation from ... read more
Palm Beach International Officially Renamed President Donald J. Trump International
FLYING Magazine If you have any saved flight plans that include Florida’s Palm Beach International (KPBI), you may notice they look a little different as of Thursday, as the airport’s name has been officially changed to President Donald J. Trump International and the identifier changed to KDJT. The airport is just minutes from Trump’s Mar-a-Largo estate. There has been opposition to the name change, which critics described as frivolous and unnecessary. READ MORE: Trump Scraps Plans for ... read more
AURA AERO To Fly INTEGRAL R At AirVenture
AURA AERO will bring its two-seat INTEGRAL R aerobatic trainer to EAA AirVenture 2026 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, as the company moves closer to FAA certification for the aircraft. The INTEGRAL R is already certified in Europe and is usually based at AURA AERO’s U.S. headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida. AirVenture Demonstrations The aircraft is scheduled to fly two aerobatic demonstration flights during the show, on Monday, July 20, and Tuesday, July 21. AURA AERO said it will exhibit near ... read more
ZeroAvia, Marshall Study Hydrogen-Electric Defense Uses
U.K.-based ZeroAvia and Marshall Aerospace said Wednesday they are collaborating to evaluate hydrogen-electric propulsion and power systems for future defense aircraft applications. The work will combine ZeroAvia’s hydrogen-electric propulsion technology, which the company has tested in flight, and Marshall’s experience in military aircraft modification, integration, certification and fuel systems. The effort is in an early stage and will focus on prototyping and evaluation before any ... read more
Garmin Unveils Axis Integrated Flight Displays for Piston Aircraft
FLYING Magazine Garmin on Wednesday unveiled a new family of flight displays designed for piston-powered aircraft called Axis. Axis is designed to work with certified piston-powered singles and twins though an AML STC (Approved Model List Supplemental Type Certificate) covering hundreds of models. The integrated avionics system is also available for experimental and light sport aircraft. Axis is designed for maximum safety and efficiency, according to Garmin. The flight displays can ... read more
CubCrafters To Offer Garmin AXIS Across Lineup
CubCrafters announced Thursday that Garmin’s new AXIS integrated flight display system will be available across its aircraft lineup for both factory-new aircraft and retrofit installations. Garmin launched the new AXIS GA panel suite during a virtual event on Wednesday. Factory And Retrofit Availability The Yakima, Washington-based aircraft manufacturer said the move follows more than 18 months of joint engineering and product integration work with Garmin. Customers ordering new ... read more
This 2021 Cirrus SF50 G2+ Vision Jet Is a Readily Available ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2021 Cirrus SF50 G2+ Pilots who routinely use their light aircraft for family transport know the value of providing a smooth, comfortable, airline-style experience for passengers. Let’s add “uneventful” to the ... read more
Trump Scraps Plans for U.K. Flight on ‘Bridge’ Air Force One
FLYING Magazine President Donald Trump’s decision to fly from Turkey to the U.K. on Wednesday in an older aircraft designated Air Force One has renewed scrutiny around the VC-25B “Bridge” aircraft—a modified Boeing 747-8 donated last year by the Qatari government—that is intended to replace it. Trump in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday said he would send the Bridge Air Force One, which this month made its first flight with the president on board, to the U.K.’s Mildenhall Air Force Base ... read more
How NYC Agencies Used Drones to Assess an Unstable Building
FLYING Magazine New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani reported Wednesday morning that there have been no structural shifts to a Manhattan high-rise since damage to the building was uncovered Tuesday, leading city officials to fear a possible collapse. As part of the effort to assess the damage, the city’s Fire Department (FDNY) deployed small drones before sending in people. Mamdani in a news conference on Tuesday said that “as we await the arrival of materials that will stabilize the ... read more
Wright Brothers Historic Sites Recognized on ‘Irreplaceable America’ List
The Wright brothers’ Dayton, Ohio, landmarks have been named to the World Monuments Fund’s “Irreplaceable America” list, recognizing the sites where aviation history was made. The designation highlights the locations where Wilbur and Orville Wright developed the technology that made powered flight possible while emphasizing the importance of preserving America’s aviation heritage. It covers a collection of sites connected to Wilbur and Orville Wright’s work, including Huffman Prairie ... read more
When Is the Best Time to Begin Training for an Instrument Rating?
FLYING Magazine Question: I just earned my private pilot certificate and I am debating on if I should roll right into training for the instrument rating or take a break? I am a little burned out on training and since fall and winter is when most of the instrument weather happens, does it make more sense to wait to train in actual IFR conditions? Answer: While the purpose of the instrument rating is to give you the skills to fly in the clouds that would keep a VFR pilot on the ground, there ... read more
Old Airport Records Lead To $4.2 Million FAA Runway Grant
A decades-old airport record helped Connecticut’s Danbury Municipal Airport secure a $4.2 million FAA grant to rehabilitate its secondary runway, keeping it in service rather than facing possible closure. Officials uncovered records from the 1990s identifying the pavement as a noise-abatement runway rather than simply a crosswind runway. That designation made the project eligible for Airport Improvement Program funding after previous grant requests had been denied. Airport Administrator ... read more
NASA’s Super Guppy Will Miss AirVenture Due to Storm Damage
FLYING Magazine There’s sad news for Super Guppy fans. The unique, last-of-its-kind cargo hauler will not be able to appear at EAA AirVenture on July 20-26. “The NASA Super Guppy was damaged in recent severe weather and will not be able to attend #OSH26,” the EAA said in a social media post. “A crew is working diligently to repair the damage, and we hope to see it back in Oshkosh soon!” According to FlightAware, the last flight of N941NA was on May 27 when it traveled from Fairfield, ... read more
Garmin Debuts AXIS For GA Panels
Garmin unveiled its new AXIS system during a virtual launch event Wednesday morning. AXIS is a new family of flight displays for certified piston singles and light twins, as well as experimental and LSA aircraft. The system is designed to offer flight display, IFR GPS, NAV/COMM radio and audio panel capability through a single display, depending on the model selected. “AXIS redefines Garmin’s flight display portfolio and brings industry-first capability to a single flight display,” Carl ... read more
FAA Issues New Guidance to Prevent CVR Data Loss
FLYING Magazine The FAA is developing recommendations to protect information captured by the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) of an aircraft that has been involved in an accident or reportable incident. The agency has issued a Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) advising airline crews and maintenance teams to shut off power to the CVR to protect critical audio data after a reportable event. CVRs are designed with a finite amount of memory that is overwritten, unless the circuit breaker for the ... read more
737 Freighter Disappears Over Arabian Sea
FLYING Magazine Authorities in the Middle East are looking for a Boeing 737-400 that disappeared Tuesday over the Arabian Sea off Pakistan. The aircraft belonged to Karachi-based K2 Airways. There were five crew members on board, two pilots, two engineers, and one support staffer, according to the carrier. Their condition is not known. The aircraft took off from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates and was flying to Karachi. Around 9:21 p.m. local time the crew radioed that they were ... read more
NASA Super Guppy Withdraws From AirVenture 2026
The iconic Super Guppy won’t make its planned appearance at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh this year. The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) announced Tuesday that NASA’s Super Guppy has been forced to cancel its appearance at AirVenture 2026 after sustaining damage during recent severe weather. “We have an unfortunate update to share with you,” EAA wrote in a social media post. “NASA says the Super Guppy was damaged in recent severe weather and will not be able to attend #OSH26. A crew is ... read more
This 2019 Cirrus SF50 G2 Vision Jet Is a Sophisticated, Turnkey ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2019 Cirrus SF50 G2 Vision Jet. This Cirrus SF50 G2 represents the absolute sweet spot of the personal jet revolution that the Vision Jet helped usher in. For owner-pilots stepping up from high-performance pistons ... read more
K2 Airways 737 Freighter Missing Off Pakistan Coast
A search-and-rescue operation is underway in the Arabian Sea after a K2 Airways Boeing 737-400 freighter disappeared from radar Tuesday night while approaching Karachi, Pakistan, with five crewmembers on board. The aircraft was operating a cargo flight from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, when it lost contact with air traffic control after reporting a navigation system problem. According to Pakistani authorities, the crew advised Karachi controllers of a navigation system malfunction ... read more
On Our Radar: May’s Aviation Picks From FLYING Magazine
FLYING Magazine Here is a collection of editor-recommended aviation products and services that are worth a closer look. From practical tools to thoughtful solutions, this is what caught our eye in the May Issue 970 of the FLYING print edition. This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine If you're not already a subscriber, what are you waiting for? Subscribe today to get the issue as soon as it is released in either Print or Digital formats. Subscribe ... read more
Airbus to Form Hydrogen Engine Joint Venture
FLYING Magazine As developers of electric and hybrid-electric aircraft experience growing pains, Airbus is doubling down on its ambition to produce a hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft. The European manufacturer on Tuesday revealed its plans to form a joint venture with Germany’s MTU Aero Engines, which per its website claims its engine technology is found on one-third of the world’s commercial aircraft. The new company will aim to develop a fully electric, hydrogen fuel cell-powered ... read more
FAA Aims to Block State, Local Crew Break Requirements
FLYING Magazine The FAA is seeking to block state and local governments from setting meal and rest period requirements for flight crews and flight attendants, asserting that those breaks are adequately covered by federal law. According to a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published in the Federal Register this week, the agency would add language to parts 117 and 121 that clarifies the federal preemption of state and local laws governing these rest periods. Whereas previous rulemaking ... read more
Boeing MQ-28 Flies With U.S. Air Force In Indo-Pacific Exercise
Boeing’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat flew alongside U.S. Air Force and coalition aircraft during Exercise Valiant Shield 2026, becoming the first collaborative combat aircraft to take part in the multinational joint force exercise. Exercises took place between June 22–July 1. The MQ-28 participated alongside F-35A, F-35B, F-15EX, HC-130, E-3, E-2D, EA-18G, RC-135 and other joint and coalition aircraft. “Having MQ-28 participate in such a significant military training exercise is a first, and this is ... read more
Seaplane Operator Addresses East River Hard Landing
FLYING Magazine The operator of a Kodiak 100 turboprop that made a hard landing on New York City’s East River on Sunday said it is investigating the cause of the accident. Acadian Seaplanes, which offers chartered flights in the U.S. Northeast and between Florida’s mainland and coastal islands, said in a LinkedIn post that the aircraft sustained “structural damage during the landing rollout” after touching down on the river around noon EDT Sunday. Per air traffic control audio, the ... read more
Electra, UrbanV, Signature Sign Regional Mobility MOU
Electra, UrbanV and Signature Aviation have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at developing a regional air mobility network using Electra’s EL9 Ultra Short aircraft and a mix of vertiports and existing aviation facilities. Companies Target Short-Field Access Points The companies said the agreement will focus on identifying and developing access points in areas where short regional trips are in demand. Electra says its nine-passenger EL9 is designed to take off and land in 150 ... read more
Keep Your Cockpit Gear From Going Rogue
FLYING Magazine The learner showed up early for his IFR lesson with his tablet EFB (electronic flight bag) and spent the next 15 minutes trying to secure it in the aircraft. The tablet measured 8 by 11, and he wanted to use a yoke mount he had before in a Mooney. I don’t know if it was the yoke on the Cessna 172 or the tablet, or the mount, or a combination—but it just didn’t work. The tablet was too large and heavy, got in the way of the controls, and blocked the view of the instrument ... read more
uAvionix Partners With Extra USA On AV-30 Upgrade
uAvionix said Tuesday it has partnered with Extra USA to make the AV-30 available as a factory service center-approved upgrade for Extra aircraft. AV-30 Retrofit The agreement covers both the AV-30-C, for certified aircraft, and the AV-30-E, for experimental aircraft. According to uAvionix, the units will be offered as replacements for older factory-installed instruments and multifunction EFIS displays, including the AVMap EFIS. The AV-30 fits in a standard 3-inch round instrument cutout ... read more
This 1978 Piper PA-28R-201T Is a Garmin-Upgraded ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1978 Piper PA-28R-201T. Long revered as a mainstay of complex cross-country flight training and personal regional travel, the retractable Piper Arrow has consistently delivered accessible performance, and this ... read more
Dynon Previews Integrated IFR Navigator For SkyView HDX
Dynon announced Tuesday that it is developing an integrated IFR GPS navigation capability for its SkyView HDX avionics system that would bring IFR navigation and approach guidance into the HDX display. Remote-Mounted Module The system is planned for both Dynon Certified and experimental SkyView HDX product lines and will require a new remote-mounted module, antenna and current IFR aviation database. Existing SkyView HDX displays will be compatible after the hardware is installed and the ... read more
CubCrafters Introduces Turbine-Powered Carbon Cub ULT
CubCrafters introduced the Carbon Cub ULT on Tuesday, a turbine-powered version of its Carbon Cub UL platform that the company says is aimed at backcountry flying under the FAA’s MOSAIC rules. According to CubCrafters, the aircraft has been undergoing flight testing near the company’s headquarters in Yakima, Washington, and will make its public debut this summer at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Turbine Power The Carbon Cub ULT uses TurboTech’s TP-R90 regenerative turbine engine, ... read more
CubCrafters Introduces Turbine-Powered Carbon Cub ULT
FLYING Magazine CubCrafters, a name synonymous with backcountry aircraft, has entered the turbine world. The company announced Tuesday that the Carbon Cub ULT will be making its public debut at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh later this month. The aircraft is undergoing final flight testing at the factory in Yakima, Washington. The Carbon Cub ULT is described in a news release as a “turbine-powered evolution of the Carbon Cub UL platform that combines the simplicity and efficiency of modern ... read more
Hybrid-Electric Regional Aviation Is Coming to an FBO Near You
FLYING Magazine Signature Aviation, the owner of the world’s largest network of private aviation terminals, could be among the first to embrace hybrid-electric aircraft that promise to reshape regional aviation by moving operations away from airports. The FBO, which already has partnerships with electric air taxi manufacturers such as Archer Aviation and Beta Technologies, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Italy’s UrbanV and Electra—whose EL9 Ultra Short is built to operate ... read more
Cirrus Unveils TRAC10 as New Benchmark for Flight Training
FLYING Magazine Cirrus, the manufacturer that introduced the aviation world to the concept of an airplane with a built-in parachute, is introducing the TRAC10, a clean-sheet design purposefully built for the instructional market. “The TRAC10 is a complete reimagining of the modern training aircraft,” said Pat Waddick, president of innovation and operations at Cirrus, in a news release. “Our team challenged decades-old norms and designed in industry-leading safety, durability, ergonomics, ... read more
Cirrus Introduces TRAC10 Training Aircraft
Cirrus introduced the TRAC10 on Monday, a new flight training aircraft intended for professional, collegiate and career-oriented flight schools. The aircraft expands the company’s TRAC training lineup and will be built at the company’s headquarters in Duluth, Minnesota. Orders And Deliveries “Drawing on more than thirty years of designing, building, and supporting aircraft worldwide, the TRAC10 is our most deliberate answer yet to what professional flight schools need to succeed,” Cirrus ... read more
Embraer Reports Best Second Quarter Deliveries In 16 Years
Embraer delivered 65 aircraft in the second quarter of 2026, its highest second-quarter delivery total in 16 years, according to a July 2 company report. The total was up from 44 aircraft in the first quarter and from 61 aircraft in the same period last year. The company said the increase was supported in part by its production leveling efforts, which are aimed at spreading deliveries more evenly through the year. Commercial Aviation accounted for 20 deliveries during the quarter, ... read more
NTSB Releases Final Report on Rob Holland Accident
FLYING Magazine National Transportation Safety Board authorities investigating the 2025 accident that killed aerobatic pilot Rob Holland have determined the failure of a custom counterweight plug resulted in a jammed elevator and subsequent loss of control during landing. Holland, 50, was one of the top aerobatic pilots in the world. He held an ATP certificate and had more than 15,000 hours of flight experience. The accident occurred on April 24 at approximately 11:35 a.m. ET as Holland ... read more
Boeing Opens Fourth 737 Max Assembly Line
FLYING Magazine Starting Monday, the Boeing factory in Everett, Washington, will be turning out finished 737 Max aircraft. According to the aerospace giant, the “North Line,” as it is called, represents the fourth final assembly line for the jet. The factory is located north of Seattle on 1,000 acres at Seattle Paine Field International Airport (KPAE). The complex is basically a small city within the boundaries of Mukilteo, Washington, and Everett. Boeing has its own fire department, ... read more
Pilot Paints ‘USA 250th’ Flight Path
FLYING Magazine The vast majority of Americans celebrated Independence Day and the nation’s 250th anniversary with barbecues and bombastic fireworks. One pilot got a little more creative. Aviation geeks on Friday morning took notice of a bizarre flight path originating from Norwalk-Huron County Airport (5A1) in Ohio. Before long, the digital drawing being created by the pilot of a Cessna 182 Skylane RG began to take shape on flight tracking platforms. The Skylane climbed to about 10,000 ... read more
Garmin Pilot Brings Flight Planning, SmartCharts Changes
Garmin announced a Garmin Pilot update for Apple devices Monday that includes a redesigned flight planning section, added SmartCharts availability and changes aimed at pilots flying the FISK VFR Arrival to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026. According to Garmin, the update replaces the app’s previous Trip Planning page and adds changes to SmartCharts and Garmin navigation database products tied to the Oshkosh arrival. New Flights Page “Garmin Pilot continues to evolve with innovative tools that ... read more
FAA Proposes Federal Standard for Crew Breaks
The FAA proposed a rule Monday that would make federal aviation regulations the controlling standard for flightcrew member and flight attendant duty, rest and meal break requirements. The notice, published July 6 in the Federal Register, would add language to Parts 117 and 121 stating that state and local requirements covering the same subject matter are preempted. Comments are due Sept. 4. Litigation prompted review The proposal follows several years of litigation over whether California ... read more
Isaacman Flew F-5 In July 4 Flyover After FAA Denial
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman flew a Northrop F-5 Tiger II during the Fourth of July flyover over Washington, D.C., after the FAA had denied a request to include four of the aircraft in the event, according to a new report from The Wall Street Journal. The flyover later proceeded after Isaacman said the aircraft had been placed under NASA control, moving the operation outside the civil exemption request. FAA Cited Safety Concerns The Journal reported that a representative for Isaacman ... read more
This 2015 Cirrus SR22T G5 Is a Well-Appointed ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2015 Cirrus SR22T G5. For over two decades, Cirrus Aircraft has completely rewritten the playbook on personal transportation, and this Generation 5 SR22T stands as a progression in that lineage, combining high-flying ... read more
Sim Lab: Flying New Zealand’s Fiordland by Beaver Bushplane
FLYING Magazine For many U.S. pilots, New Zealand is a country we’d love to explore by air, but few of us have had the opportunity to travel there. If you’ve always wanted to fly in the South Pacific country but haven’t had the chance, it’s possible to experience it digitally by using Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (MSFS2024). I’ve been flying on MSFS2024 since a major update in fall 2025 brought the needed stability to the title. Using Microsoft’s extensive location data and AI ... read more
Wingfoot One Returns to AirVenture
FLYING Magazine They are large. They are quiet. They make people stop in their tracks and look up. “They” of course are airships, and this year you can see Wingfoot One, Goodyear’s iconic blimp, in the sky over AirVenture Oshkosh. The annual Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in convention is slated for July 20-26 at Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH). The airship is scheduled to arrive Thursday, July 23. “The Goodyear Blimp is unmatched in both its pedigree and in the excitement that it ... read more
FAA Proposes New Inspection Rating For Mechanics
The FAA has proposed replacing the inspection authorization currently held by some A&P mechanics with a new inspection rating on the mechanic certificate, according to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published July 1 in the Federal Register. Renewal Requirement Would Be Removed Under the proposal, the new inspection rating would carry the same privileges and limitations now held under the inspection authorization, including approval for return to service after major repairs or major ... read more
South Mountain Aviation Earns Repair Station Certification
FLYING Magazine South Mountain Aviation, located at Hagerstown Regional Airport (KHGR) in Maryland, has been awarded Part 145 certification from the FAA. The certification grants the company official authorization to operate as an approved repair station. The business is located in Rider Jet Center, a full-service FBO. South Mountain Aviation was founded in 2024 by aviation maintenance professionals Terry and Jayce Keefer, and is co-owned by Rider Jet Center owner Ben Rider. The company ... read more
This 1979 Beechcraft Baron 58 Is a Long Distance-Traveling ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1979 Beechcraft Baron 58. Many people will tell you that the turboprop single has essentially taken over the market segment once ruled by light twins. The numbers seem to support this notion, as pilots looking to ... read more
FAA Awards L3Harris ADS-B Upgrade Contract
L3Harris Technologies said Wednesday it received an FAA contract to upgrade and continue operating the agency’s aircraft surveillance network through 2045. The system includes the ground infrastructure that receives ADS-B position reports from aircraft and sends surveillance data to FAA air traffic facilities. ADS-B Ground Stations To Be Upgraded According to L3Harris, the work will include upgrades to more than 700 ground stations across the country. “L3Harris is propelling the FAA’s ... read more
Pilots Must Recognize Not-If-But-When Scenarios
FLYING Magazine Some pilots like to embellish on their “saves” to inflate their own stature. Not me. I didn’t want this to happen, and I don’t want to experience another one. In fact, I’d prefer not to write this column. However, the old saying “not if, but when” applies to October 7, 2025, when my Van’s RV-7A engine spewed its last gasp and became an inefficient nose ballast. Pilots fear single-engine failure for good reason—it’s scary. I hope this helps the next poor schmuck faced with ... read more
Chinese Authorities Say Beijing Tower Crash Was Deliberate
Chinese authorities said the June 26 crash of a small aircraft into Beijing’s CITIC Tower was caused by the pilot for “personal reasons.” The 66-year-old pilot, identified by authorities only by his surname, Liu, was killed when the two-seat Aurora SA60L struck the 109-story skyscraper, also known as China Zun. Thirteen others were injured. The BBC reported that one had been discharged from the hospital by Thursday, while DPA reported that officials said all of the injured were out of ... read more
When GPS Fails: Lessons from a Fatal Air Ambulance Crash
FLYING Magazine Losing situational awareness on any flight is a bad thing, but it’s particularly bad in IMC. When you can’t see the horizon because of clouds or darkness, it can become a potentially deadly situation. This is why instrument flight candidates are taught to fly by “partial panel,” which means the instructor “fails” an instrument, often the attitude indicator, by covering it up. The learners expect this during training. But something they aren’t trained for, if anecdotal ... read more
Papua Separatists Claim Fatal Shooting Of U.S. Pilot
A separatist group in Indonesia’s Papua region said Thursday its fighters killed an American pilot and burned an aircraft operated by local air carrier, PT AMA, after it landed at Balinggama village in Yahukimo. The pilot was identified by AP as Nicholas F. Goselin. Officials Report Lost Contact Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation did not say what type of aircraft was involved, but said the aircraft carried one pilot and seven passengers on a flight from Wamena. The pilot ... read more
FAA Says Happy Fourth of July With $1.776B in Airport Grants
FLYING Magazine The FAA is celebrating America’s 250th birthday and wishing airports in 46 states a happy Fourth of July by awarding $1.776 billion in grants that will support a range of upgrades, including runway rehabilitations and safety upgrades. As of Thursday, the regulator has awarded more than $1 billion in Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants in fiscal year 2026 (FY26). Earlier this year, it released the fifth and final installment of the $14.5 billion Airport Infrastructure ... read more
FAA Announces $1.776 Billion In Airport Grants
The FAA will distribute $1.776 billion in airport grants for projects across 46 states, according to a Thursday announcement from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The funding will go toward runway and taxiway work, terminal improvements, lighting projects, safety upgrades and other airport infrastructure needs. Among the larger awards are $88.8 million for pavement projects at Denver International Airport, $74 million for runway rehabilitation, apron expansion and visual guidance ... read more
Navy Searches For Missing MH-60S Crewmember
FLYING Magazine U.S. Navy personnel searched overnight for the missing crewmember of a Sikorsky MH-60S Seahawk helicopter that made an emergency water landing in the Arabian Sea on Wednesday. U.S. Naval Forces Central Command said in a statement Wednesday that the helicopter, assigned to the USS George H.W. Bush, made the landing Monday morning around 3:30 a.m. EDT due to unknown circumstances. It added that there is “no indication the emergency was caused by hostile action.” As of June, ... read more
Repairs Scheduled for Tillamook Air Museum’s Iconic Hangar B
FLYING Magazine Repairs at Oregon’s Hangar B, the home of the Tillamook Air Museum, are slated to begin this summer. According to Christian Gurling, the museum’s curator, the work to remove the damaged section of the roof will begin in early August, pending final coordination with outside partners. The work is expected to take approximately 30 days to complete. The hangar was damaged by a December windstorm. There is a 200-foot hole at the crown of the roof and a large section of roofing ... read more
FAA To Decommission 674 Flight Service RCOs
The FAA has issued its final decision to decommission 674 remote communications outlets used by Flight Service Stations in the continental U.S., Hawaii and Puerto Rico, according to a notice published Wednesday in the Federal Register. FAA Revises Earlier Proposal The agency had previously proposed removing the full network of 936 outlets in the affected areas. Under the final plan, the FAA will retain 262 outlets and decommission 504 RCOs and 170 VOR voice outlets. The change comes after ... read more
Boulder Adds UL94 Under Transition Plan
Boulder Municipal Airport has begun offering UL94 unleaded avgas, moving a previously announced leaded-fuel transition plan into operation several months ahead of the timeline officials outlined earlier this year. UL94 Now Available The first 1,800 gallons of Swift Fuels UL94 arrived at the airport July 1. The fuel will be offered alongside 100-octane low-lead avgas, and a Colorado Department of Transportation Division of Aeronautics grant to the City of Boulder will allow UL94 to be sold ... read more
By 2027, Delivery Drones Could Be Everywhere In Texas
FLYING Magazine As the saying goes, everything is bigger in Texas—including drone delivery services. By the end of 2027, the buzzing uncrewed aircraft (UA) could deliver everything from hot meals and cold drinks to pharmaceuticals for residents statewide, according to partners Zipline and Wonder. The drone delivery provider and food technology platform on Tuesday revealed plans to offer on-demand service in minutes out of Wonder locations across Texas, beginning with Dallas-Fort Worth in ... read more
This 2025 Cessna 700 Citation Longitude Is an Extremely Low-Time ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2025 Cessna 700 Citation Longitude. Stepping straight into the upper echelon of corporate aviation, this factory-fresh super-midsize jet bypasses lengthy production waitlists to deliver immediate, transcontinental ... read more
The Tragic Cost of Flying for the Camera
FLYING Magazine I may be the only pilot on the planet who wasn’t familiar with the saga of Jenny Blalock, known on social media as “TNFlygirl,” that so tragically ended with her 2023 death in an aircraft crash. And it seems odd since I spent a good deal of time in Knoxville, Tennessee, where she based her airplanes and trained. I often took my Cessna 180 from Cincinnati Lunken (KLUK) to fly required FAA flight checks with Stan Brock and others in the Remote Area Medical DC-3. But time ... read more
Gulfstream Claims Record for Fastest, Farthest Business Jet Flight
FLYING Magazine This week, Gulfstream Aerospace’s ultra-long-range G800 completed the fastest, farthest flight ever by a business jet, according to the manufacturer. Gulfstream announced the milestone in a news release Wednesday that also highlighted the company’s 800th city pair speed record, also achieved—fittingly—by the G800. “Reaching our 800th city pair speed record and completing the farthest fastest flight in our industry’s history demonstrates the strength of our next-generation ... read more
Trump Takes First Flight on VC-25B Bridge
FLYING Magazine President Donald Trump has made his first flight on the VC-25B Bridge, the modified Boeing 747-8 donated last year by the government of Qatar as a replacement for the 1990s-era Boeing that had served as Air Force One since the administration of George H.W. Bush. On Wednesday, Trump was accompanied by his sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. and his wife Bettina Anderson on the trip from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to Medora, North Dakota, where the president is scheduled ... read more
Louisiana Extends Liability Protection To Private Airfield Owners
Louisiana approved new legislation that extends liability protection to owners and managers of private-use airports, a move aviation advocates say could encourage greater access to privately owned airfields across the state. The measure, which takes effect Aug. 1, adds recreational aviation to Louisiana’s recreational use statute, limiting liability for owners or managers of nonpublic-use airports when they allow others to use their facilities for noncommercial aviation activities. Under ... read more
Flying on the Fourth
FLYING Magazine Will you be in the sky on the Fourth of July? For many pilots, watching the annual fireworks shows from above is a bucket list item. If this is your plan, make sure you check for Temporary Flight Restrictions before you launch. The FAA has a TFR map that goes up in advance of fireworks shows. It shows not only the location but also the time and duration of the TFR. Remember, you may be sharing the airspace with another pilot who wants to watch from the sky, so exercise ... read more
Praetor 500E Triple Certification Continues Embraer’s Momentum
FLYING Magazine Less than three months after Embraer’s super-midsize Praetor 600E secured triple certification from the FAA, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and Brazil’s Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC), the Praetor 500E—its midsize cousin—has achieved the same regulatory trifecta. The 500E is now approved for operations in the U.S., Europe, and Brazil less than six months after Embraer unveiled the models—the first evolutions in the manufacturer’s Praetor family, ... read more
NORAD Urges Pilots to Check TFRs Ahead of ‘Freedom 250’ Events
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is reminding pilots to closely review airspace restrictions and flight planning information as the United States prepares for “Freedom 250” celebrations marking the nation’s 250th anniversary. In a June 30 press release, the command said Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) will be issued around select commemorative events to protect participants and maintain aviation safety. Officials emphasized that pilots operating under visual flight ... read more
FAA Proposes New Rules For Civil Supersonic Flight
The FAA has begun developing rules that could allow civil supersonic aircraft to operate over the U.S. under a new noise-based certification framework. In a June 30 announcement, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the agency is taking “a pivotal step” toward enabling supersonic operations over the continental U.S., arguing that advances in aircraft design could allow supersonic flight without the disruptive sonic boom that led to a decades-long ban over land. The FAA said the ... read more
White House Helipad is Trump’s Latest Construction Project
FLYING Magazine The White House’s picturesque South Lawn is reportedly getting a renovation that would stop helicopters from charring the grass. The Washington Post on Tuesday reported that, overnight, crews descended on the South Lawn to begin building a new helipad near the traditional landing spot for Marine One, the call sign for whichever helicopter is carrying the president. One of these rotorcraft, Sikorsky’s VH-92A Patriot, has never lifted off from the White House due to its ... read more
FAA Says Employee Misconduct Behind Alaska Flight Service Closures
The FAA confirmed that an employee misconduct investigation is behind the temporary closure of seven Alaska Flight Service Stations, according to the Nome Nugget. The agency said several Flight Service employees have been placed on administrative leave while it works with the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General. The FAA did not describe the nature of the allegations or how many employees are involved, saying only that it is taking the matter seriously to protect ... read more
AOPA Rusty Pilots Program Reaches 15,000 Returning Aviators
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) says its Rusty Pilots program has helped 15,000 pilots return to flying since the initiative launched in 2014. The program is aimed at certificated pilots who have been inactive for a period of time and need a pathway back to currency. It is offered through in-person seminars, live webinars, and self-paced online courses covering updates on FAA regulations, airspace changes, medical reform, weather tools, preflight planning, and radio ... read more
The Piston Aircraft Market: Where It’s Been, Where It Stands, and What Comes Next
FLYING Magazine You know that person. The one who can name the airport just from the identifier, who spots the aircraft type before you can read the tail number, who knows when Charles Lindbergh crossed the Atlantic and what he was flying and why the Ryan NYP had that particular fuel tank placement. If you asked that person to explain what is happening in the piston aircraft market right now, this is what they would tell you. Where It’s Been: The Long Consolidation The golden era of ... read more
This 1971 Cessna 150K Is a Dual-Purpose, 150 HP ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1971 Cessna 150K. Breaking the mold of a traditional two-seat trainer by offering an uncommon combination of upgraded horsepower and backcountry amphibious freedom, this Cessna 150K represents a significant step up ... read more
What I Learned at Beta Technologies’ Media Day
FLYING Magazine There are many active and former pilots who write and contribute content for FLYING. I am not one of them. Yet on June 3, I found myself at the controls of an all-electric aircraft. The fly-by-wire controls of Beta Technologies’ Alia CX300 are intuitive enough that I—someone with zero flying experience—was able to take command from test pilot Chris “Pooter” Caputo for a few minutes without plummeting into Lake Champlain, next to the company’s facilities in Burlington, ... read more
Chart Wise: Witham Field (KSUA) RNAV GPS Rwy 12
FLYING Magazine An adventure to the Bahamas is one every GA pilot should take given the opportunity. On return, you’ll need to clear customs when entering the U.S. One place many pilots choose to do so is at Witham Field (KSUA) in Stuart, Florida. North of the busier Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach area airspaces, it can be a great place to stop, check in, fuel up, and then head back home—reluctantly for many of us who don’t really want to have to leave the Bahamas ... read more
C-2 Greyhound Makes Last Carrier Landing
FLYING Magazine It takes a special aircraft to deliver supplies, people, and mail to an aircraft carrier at sea, and for decades that aircraft has been the Grumman C-2 Greyhound. The twin-engine high-wing designed for carrier onboard delivery (COD) has now made its final carrier delivery. According to the U.S. Navy, the C-2 made its final arrested landing and catapult launch aboard the USS Nimitz on June 25. The aircraft has been in service since 1965, and quickly became the workhorse of ... read more
FAA Takes First Steps to Repeal Supersonic Flight Ban
FLYING Magazine Federal regulators on Tuesday took the first step in repealing the 53-year-old ban on civil supersonic flight over the continental U.S. The FAA established the limitation in 1973 to protect the public from sonic booms. It has faced significant pressure from Congress and the White House to reverse it, citing advancements in technology. In a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published Tuesday, the regulator said it agrees with the ban’s detractors that the provision is ... read more
Hartzell Receives STC For Frontier Prop On Cessna 180s
Hartzell Propeller said Monday that it has received FAA supplemental type certificate approval for its Frontier aluminum propeller for Cessna 180 Skywagon A-J models powered by Continental O-470 engines. Propeller Details The 88-inch, two-blade propeller uses an aluminum hub and scimitar-style aluminum blades. Hartzell said the installed assembly weighs 55.4 pounds and is approved for Continental O-470 A, J, K, L, R and S engine variants. The company said the propeller has no RPM ... read more
Joby Nears Exclusive Electric Air Taxi Production Deal With Toyota
FLYING Magazine Joby Aviation’s eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) air taxi graced the skies of New York City in April during a week of demonstrations. The model is not yet certified to fly paying customers. But when it is, the first units to enter service will likely be produced by Toyota Motor Corp. Per a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing, Joby and Toyota on Monday formed the Joby Toyota Aero Manufacturing Preparation Company (JTAMPC), incorporated in Delaware. ... read more
Considerations for Mountain Flying
FLYING Magazine Question: I am a 200-hour private pilot with an aspiration to fly from the California coast to Utah to visit family. Every route I am considering takes me over the mountains. What is the best way to prepare for such a flight? Answer: You should begin by making sure you have an appropriate airplane. Information published by the FAA recommends using an aircraft of no less than 160 horsepower for flight over the mountains and taking a recognized Mountain Flying course to ... read more
TSA Sets Fee for New Crew Screening Program
FLYING Magazine The Transportation Security Administration has set the fee for the new program that will replace Known Crewmember, outlining additional details as the agency prepares to bring the crew screening process under its own control. In a Federal Register notice published Tuesday, TSA said participating aircraft operators will pay $19 per employee, per year for the Crewmember Access Point program, also known as CMAP. The fee becomes effective Jan. 1, 2027. The new timeline reflects ... read more
How Airline Pilots Can Break Through 401(k) Limits
FLYING Magazine Most airline pilots are diligent savers. They max out their 401(k)s, capture every dollar of employer contributions, and stay on top of their investment allocations. Still, for many pilots in their peak earning years, even doing everything right may not be enough. This is the central message of a recent webinar hosted by Allworth Airline Advisors, in which James Risalvato, a financial planner with Naval aviation experience, walks pilots through a retirement savings ... read more
FAA Weighs Drone Restrictions Near Critical Infrastructure
The FAA has extended the comment period on its proposed rule to establish drone flight restrictions near certain fixed site facilities, giving the public until Aug. 5 to submit comments. Proposed Rule Would Create New UAS Restrictions The proposed rule would create a process for operators and proprietors of eligible facilities to request an unmanned aircraft flight restriction, known as a UAFR. Applicants would need to show the FAA that a restriction is needed for aviation safety, ... read more
W Aviation Organizes Venezuela Relief Flights
W Aviation, an FBO based at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport in Florida, has started a humanitarian airlift effort to move relief supplies to Venezuela following back-to-back earthquakes that struck the nation’s north-central coast June 24. The operation, called Wings of Hope for Venezuela, is using W Aviation as the collection and logistics site for donated supplies. AEG Fuels is also participating in the effort, and W Aviation said aircraft owners connected to the fuel provider have ... read more
Joby, Toyota Launch eVTOL Manufacturing Alliance
Joby Aviation and Toyota Motor Corporation announced Tuesday that they have formed a joint venture focused on preparing Joby’s electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for commercial production. The companies said the partnership will focus first on manufacturing processes, production quality, productivity and cost control. The alliance is also expected to support future production capacity as Joby works through aircraft certification and prepares for anticipated demand for its eVTOL ... read more
Special Olympics Airlift a Success
FLYING Magazine Volunteer pilots and more than 130 donated aircraft made it possible for more than 800 athletes to get to and from the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in St. Paul, Minnesota. The airlift was organized by Textron Aviation and involved Cessna and Beechcraft aircraft flying in and out of St. Paul Downtown Airport Holman Field (KSTP). Signature was the exclusive FBO sponsor of the 2026 Special Olympics Airlift, with Signature locations around the country assisting and the ... read more
China Grounds Light Aircraft
China has suspended private light fixed-wing aircraft operations and flight training nationwide following the crash of a light sport aircraft into Beijing’s CITIC Tower, Reuters reported. The accident occurred Friday evening when a two-seat Sunward SA60L Aurora struck the 1,732-foot tower, also known as China Zun, in the city’s central business district. The pilot, who was the only person on board, was killed. Thirteen people who were not aboard the aircraft were injured, according to ... read more
CAF Raising Money for Historic Stinson AT-19
FLYING Magazine One of the most challenging aspects of owning a vintage aircraft is that they can be expensive to maintain—especially if it’s a former military aircraft, also known as a warbird. That’s why the Commemorative Air Force’s Rainier Squadron in Washington state has launched a fundraising campaign to help cover the cost of an engine overhaul for its 1944 Stinson AT-19 Reliant. AT stands for “advanced trainer.” During the war they were used as navigational trainers and liaison ... read more
This 2003 Diamond DA40-180 Star Is a Near Zero-Time Engine ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2003 Diamond DA40. When it comes to blending futuristic composite architecture with an unyielding, industry-leading reputation for safety, the Diamond DA40 lies in the upper echelon of those in its class. This ... read more
Pueblo Removes Proposed 100-Hour CFI Cap
Pueblo, Colorado, has removed language from a draft update to Pueblo Memorial Airport’s minimum standards that would have limited permitted flight instructors to 100 hours of flight instruction per year. The proposed cap, which would have been measured by Hobbs meter reading, was part of a broader draft addressing commercial aeronautical activities at the airport. City Revises Draft “The Minimum Standards for Commercial Aeronautical Activities are a proposal in draft form and remain under ... read more
Honeywell Aerospace Officially Takes Flight
FLYING Magazine Honeywell Aerospace now stands alone. The company on Monday began trading independently on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker HONA after spreading its wings and separating from Honeywell’s core business, which is now a pure-play automation provider. Honeywell announced the split in February 2025 and last year spun off its advanced materials business. Shares of HONA on the Nasdaq opened at $236.78 apiece. The new company’s CEO, Jim Currier, told CNBC on Monday that the ... read more
FAA Investigates JetBlue Drone Strike
The FAA is investigating a reported drone strike involving JetBlue Flight 948, which was on final approach to John F. Kennedy International Airport on Monday morning after a flight from Las Vegas. According to the FAA, the flight crew reported the possible strike at about 7:15 a.m. local time while the aircraft was at approximately 3,000 feet. The aircraft continued to JFK and landed safely. A post-flight inspection found no damage, according to both the FAA and JetBlue. “The pilot of ... read more
Switzerland’s H55 Is Electric Aviation’s Latest Downsizer
FLYING Magazine Swiss propulsion system developer H55 is the latest electric aviation firm to scale down amid growing pains for the sector. Per a news release shared with FLYING on Monday, H55 laid off 54 employees following a “comprehensive review” of the business and its activities. According to Aviation Week, which was first to report the cuts, H55 employed 109 people before the move, meaning the company slashed close to half of its workforce. It had originally estimated 80 layoffs. The ... read more
Honeywell Aerospace Spins-Off As Independent Company
Honeywell Aerospace began operating today as an independent public company following its spin-off from Honeywell International Inc., placing the company’s avionics, navigation, engines, power systems and aircraft control businesses under a stand-alone aerospace and defense supplier. Phoenix-based Honeywell Aerospace launches with more than 36,000 employees and supports more than 10,000 customers worldwide, according to the company. The company’s aviation portfolio includes systems used for ... read more
Report Details Counter-UAS Readiness Gaps
Counter-drone company DroneShield released a new report Monday on counter-UAS readiness among airports and critical infrastructure operators. Many respondents cited limits in detection, authority and response planning. The report is based on anonymized survey responses from 23 operators across North America, Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Respondents included airport and aviation authority officials, port operators, correctional facility representatives and critical ... read more
Bremerton Air Show Returns With Historic Warbirds
FLYING Magazine The Bremerton Air Show returns to Bremerton National Airport (KPWT) on July 11-12 for the fourth consecutive year, honoring the former U.S. Navy site’s World War II history with a showcase of vintage and modern aircraft. According to airshow spokesperson Eric Filler, among the aircraft expected to perform is an F-86F Sabre, F4U-7 Corsair, F6F-5N Hellcat, P-40E, a rare West Coast gathering of multiple P-51Ds, Marchetti 260C, Yak-18T, and UH-1 Huey. Planned ground displays ... read more
Eleven Killed In French Skydiving Plane Accident
A skydiving flight carrying 10 skydivers and a pilot went down near Nancy, France, on Sunday, killing all 11 people on board, according to local authorities. The aircraft departed Nancy-Essey airfield at about 11 a.m. local time and came down near the edge of the aerodrome in Tomblaine, in the Meurthe-et-Moselle region of northeastern France. Authorities said those killed included five instructors, five first-time skydivers and the pilot. French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot ... read more
This 2017 Sling Aircraft Sling 2 Is a Professionally Built ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2017 Sling Aircraft Sling 2. This particular 2017 model represents an experimental amateur-built (E-AB) platform that was professionally constructed at the Midwest Build Center. Boasting a clean, one-owner history, ... read more
Used Aircraft Guide: Van’s RV-8
FLYING Magazine If you would like to find out how it feels to fly an old-school, piston-engine fighter, there are a few paths available. Learning to fly a North American AT-6, just like aspiring fighter jocks did during World War II, is a great way to build the skills necessary to move on to more glamorous warbirds and to experience the feel of combat-style flight without necessarily burning through millions of dollars in the process. Those with more time and money to spend, and a desire ... read more
Should You Use an LLC or Personal Title for Your Aircraft?
FLYING Magazine BROUGHT TO YOU BY FLYING FINANCE If you’ve spent your time researching, running the numbers, getting preapproved, and inspecting the aircraft you want to purchase, you might have one big question left about the purchase you haven’t considered: Do you want to title this aircraft in your personal name or through an LLC? It might sound like there should be an obvious answer to that question if you have a general understanding of your financing situation, but the truth is that ... read more
Report: Next-Gen Air Force Trainers Have ‘Serious’ Flight Concerns
FLYING Magazine The U.S. Air Force in 2018 awarded Boeing a $9.2 billion, fixed-price contract to replace its aging T-38 Talon trainers. According to a new report, the manufacturer’s next-generation T-7 Red Hawk still cannot fly in rain—and that may be the least of its concerns. The three-part, 7,000-word investigation from digital news site Breaking Defense includes interviews with officials from the Air Force and Boeing—as well as unnamed government sources and people familiar with the ... read more
Catch Classic Aviation Films Under the Stars at EAA AirVenture’s Fly-In Theater
FLYING Magazine One of the best parts of EAA AirVenture is being surrounded by so many other individuals that share your interest in aviation. This is particularly true at the Fly-In Theater, which will be showing a series of classic aviation movies during the week. If you’re sometimes compelled to yell at the screen to correct aviation mistakes or roar in approval, this is for you. This year the Fly-In Theater is screening six aviation-centered movies from July 18-24. The theater is ... read more
Removing the Barriers to Safe and Modern Flight
FLYING Magazine Do you remember your introduction to flight? The thrill of the discovery flight, the first time you called “My controls,” and that first power off stall? It is those moments that captivate a pilot’s passion for aviation. If you are like me, a little opposite aileron during a high degree of bank came much more naturally than my next lesson. Learning to fly in a geography where I grew up made pilotage second nature, but figuring out which push, twist or dial on which display ... read more
FAA Reviewing Boeing 777 Low Pass In Texas
The FAA says it is reviewing reports of a Boeing 777-200LRMF converted freighter making a low pass over Horseshoe Bay Resort Jet Center Airport in Texas on Wednesday. ADS-B data showed the aircraft, registered N705DN, passing over the airport at a reported altitude of 950 feet, though FlightRadar24 said local pressure and the airport’s 1,080-foot elevation would put the aircraft much closer to runway level. The aircraft is a former Delta Air Lines 777-200LR converted by Mammoth Freighters ... read more
FAA Building Air Taxi Research Hub in Oklahoma City
FLYING Magazine A Transportation Department (DOT) contractor this week broke ground on a new Oklahoma City facility that officials say will be a dedicated proving ground for electric and hybrid aircraft technology. Unlike the various FAA-authorized uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) test sites spread across the country, which study small drones, the agency’s Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) Procedures and Analysis Range (V-PAR) is intended for bigger aircraft, such as passenger-carrying air ... read more
FAA Proposes Removing Old Balloon Certificate Rules
The FAA is proposing to remove two sections of 14 CFR Part 61 that address obsolete free-balloon pilot certificates issued prior to Nov. 1, 1973, along with other outdated pilot certificates and ratings. The notice of proposed rulemaking, published Friday in the Federal Register, would remove and reserve sections 61.7 and 61.11, which cover obsolete certificates and ratings as well as expired pilot certificates and reissuance. “FAA does not anticipate these changes would affect the ... read more
FAA Breaks Ground On AAM Research Range
The Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration have broken ground on a new advanced air mobility (AAM) research range at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City. The Vertical Takeoff and Landing Procedures and Analysis Range, or V-PAR, is planned as a dedicated test site for vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, including electric and hybrid designs. FAA announced the ground breaking on Thursday. “The V-PAR is a critical step in helping the FAA better ... read more
This 1974 Cessna 172M Skyhawk Is a Low-Time ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1974 Cessna 172M Skyhawk. I recall reading an article years ago in which the author pondered whether the Cessna 172 was still relevant in the modern GA market. While the answer might have been in doubt at the time, ... read more
Light Sport Aircraft Hits Beijing Skyscraper
A small aircraft struck Beijing’s CITIC Tower on Friday, prompting evacuations from the 1,732-foot skyscraper in the city’s central business district. The aircraft was identified by the South China Morning Post as a Sunward SA60L Aurora, a two-seat, single-engine light sport aircraft. The aircraft hit the upper floors of the tower, also known as China Zun, scattering debris near the building. Images of the registration code appeared to match an aircraft owned by a local general aviation ... read more
FAA Proposes Part 25 Certification Updates
The FAA has published a notice of proposed rulemaking that would update certification standards for transport category airplanes and propulsion systems under 14 CFR Part 25. The proposal, published June 26, would revise a range of airworthiness requirements used in the certification of new and modified transport category aircraft. Comments on the NPRM are due Aug. 25. Certification Paperwork Targeted “By codifying frequently issued exemptions and special conditions and reducing the need ... read more
Jet Aviation Signs 30-Year Lease for New FBO at Colorado Airport
FLYING Magazine Jet Aviation has signed a 30-year-lease with SR Aviation Infrastructure and Business Aviation Group to operate an FBO at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (KBJC). Jet Aviation, a worldwide FBO service, was founded in Switzerland in 1967 and now has locations in Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, which includes 12 locations in the U.S. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics with over 4,500 employees and 50 locations globally. Jet ... read more
Deadly Display Potential in the Cockpit
FLYING Magazine Flying an RNAV (GPS) approach with a +V advisory glide slope looks and feels exactly like flying a glide path to LPV minimums. But while an LPV path is obstacle-protected down to a decision altitude (DA), a +V glide slope can run you through a mountain after you descend below the minimum descent altitude (MDA). Yet in both situations, the PFD display will look almost identical. A recent fatal accident involving a 2024 Epic E1000 at Steamboat Springs, Colorado, highlights ... read more
FAA ‘Looking Into’ Viral Boeing 777 Low-Pass Video
FLYING Magazine Aviation geeks on Thursday morning hotly debated whether a viral video shared by X user @EBAviation—which appears to depict a Boeing 777-200LR making an extremely low pass at Horseshoe Bay Resort Jet Center in Texas, nearly scraping the runway—is real or generated by artificial intelligence. “Inches from disaster and for what? Stupid stupid stupid,” opined Steve Giordano, a partner with Nomadic Aviation Group who runs the CockpitCasual YouTube channel. Que raso! Um ... read more
Electric Aircraft Begin Crisscrossing Hawaii’s Islands
FLYING Magazine In the coming months, the FAA will oversee trials of precertified electric aircraft in 26 states under its eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). Hawaii is not one of them. But the state’s residents and visitors will get a first glimpse of the technology during trial operations that began Thursday and are expected to continue for six to eight weeks. The trials are being led by electric aircraft manufacturer Beta Technologies and Part ... read more
MQ-28 Ghost Bat To Join Valiant Shield Exercise
Boeing Defence Australia’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat is set to take part in Exercise Valiant Shield 2026, according to Pacific Air Forces. The production-representative test aircraft will operate during the biennial exercise in the Indo-Pacific, where U.S. and allied forces will evaluate collaborative combat aircraft operations alongside crewed fighter platforms. “The future of airpower is a partnership between our greatest assets: our skilled warfighters and the technology that empowers them,” U.S. ... read more
Flexjet Adds Gulfstream G500 and More G700s for Fractional Owners
FLYING Magazine After CEO Mike Silvestro alluded to it during a Thursday morning interview with Yahoo Finance, Flexjet on Thursday confirmed it has a new, exclusive arrangement with Gulfstream that will add the G500 to its growing large cabin fleet. Flexjet formally announced that the G500 entered its fleet on Thursday afternoon and said its agreement with the manufacturer grants it “exclusivity as the only fractional provider to receive delivery of new Gulfstream G500 and G700 aircraft.” ... read more
CWBS, Pilatus Extend PC-24 Wheel And Brake Agreement
Cleveland Wheel & Brake Systems has extended its supplier agreement with Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. to continue providing OEM wheel and brake assemblies for the Pilatus PC-24 Super Versatile Jet through 2036. The Avon, Ohio-based company currently supplies the nose wheel assemblies, main wheel assemblies and brake assemblies for the PC-24. CWBS said its relationship with Pilatus also includes work on the PC-12 PRO and PC-21 programs. CWBS President Brett Fulford said the agreement continues ... read more
Skyryse, Robinson Announce R66 UAS Partnership
Skyryse said Wednesday that it has partnered with Robinson Helicopter Company’s Robinson Unmanned unit to integrate SkyOS into the Robinson R66. The companies said the project is intended to produce a Group 4 unmanned aircraft system for defense missions. The R66-based aircraft is being developed for missions including collaborative combat aircraft operations, air-launched effects, manned-unmanned teaming and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Skyryse said the work will use ... read more
This 1980 Beechcraft King Air F90 Is a Well-Sorted ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1980 Beechcraft King Air F90. Few families of turboprops command the corporate and owner-flown markets quite like the Beechcraft King Air line, and the F90 model holds a special legendary status by combining the ... read more
FAA Adds Cardiac Guidance To AME Guide
The Federal Aviation Administration updated its Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners on Wednesday, adding several cardiac-condition disposition tables for pilots and air traffic control specialists seeking medical certification. The update applies to Item 36, Heart, and includes new tables for heart murmur, congenital heart conditions, endocarditis, Wolff-Parkinson-White and other pre-excitation conditions, fibromuscular dysplasia, heart transplant and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. FAA ... read more
Robinson, Skyryse to Turn R66 Helicopter Into a UAS
FLYING Magazine Robinson Helicopter Company, which in March unveiled a future family of autonomous rotorcraft, will turn its venerable R66 into an uncrewed asset for defense applications. Skyryse—which bills its SkyOS platform as a universal operating system for flight, capable of simplifying the controls of any aircraft—on Tuesday revealed it is working with the manufacturer’s Robinson Unmanned unit to develop a Group 4 uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) for a wide range of military missions. ... read more
FAA, Coast Guard Disagree on D.C. Airspace Safety
FLYING Magazine The FAA and U.S. Coast Guard disagree on the safety of the airspace near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) in D.C. following major changes the regulator recently implemented. The FAA in January published an interim final rule that would permanently restrict nonessential helicopter and powered-lift aircraft operations in certain areas near KDCA, building on updates it made to the airport’s helicopter routes and zones in October. For example, helicopter Route 3 ... read more
Aviation Groups Oppose GI Bill Flight Training Cap
A coalition of aviation organizations is urging House leadership to reject H.R. 5634, warning that the proposed limits on GI Bill flight training benefits would restrict veterans’ access to aviation careers and worsen what they describe as an already strained pilot pipeline. In a June 22 joint letter sent to Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, the groups said they “strongly oppose” the Veterans Flight ... read more
eVTOL Fleet Could Near 7,000 By 2050
A new forecast from Valour Consultancy projects a global in-service fleet of just under 7,000 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis by 2050, pointing to a slower and more constrained rollout of urban air mobility than some earlier industry projections. The analysis, published in The Future of Advanced Air Mobility – 2026, estimates 6,824 passenger eVTOL aircraft will be operating by mid-century. The consultancy describes the trajectory as a “gradual, ... read more
PTS vs. ACS: Why You Should Train to the Modern Standards
FLYING Magazine Question: I just inherited a bunch of old aviation books from a friend. He gave me copies of the Practical Test Standards (PTS) for private pilot, instrument, and commercial ticket. My instructor said I’d be better off using the Airman Certification Standards (ACS) to prepare for my check rides, but aren’t they pretty much the same thing? Answer: According to the FAA, the ACS are an updated, modernized version of the PTS. The PTS focuses primarily on the tasks the pilot ... read more
Autonomous Aircraft Tune In To CTAF
As autonomous flight systems edge closer to real-world operations, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology are turning to one of general aviation’s most familiar tools: the CTAF radio. A Georgia Tech research team has developed a system that allows autonomous aircraft to interpret pilot radio calls at non-towered airports and use that information to better predict the movements of nearby aircraft. The aim is to improve separation and situational awareness for future uncrewed ... read more
Epic Flight Academy Graduates First Group of Air Force Pilots
FLYING Magazine Epic Flight Academy has graduated its first group of U.S. Air Force pilots who completed Initial Pilot Training (IPT) at its New Smyrna Beach, Florida, campus. The officers trained under an Educational Service Agreement (ESA) with the Air Force to earn their private pilot certificate, instrument rating, and private pilot multi-engine add-on in 139 days or less. According to Epic Flight Academy (EFA), following the successful completion of the inaugural cohort in New Smyrna ... read more
This 2023 Aviat A-1C-200 Husky Is an IFR-Equipped ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2023 Aviat A-1C-200 Husky. Widely regarded as one of the premier choices for backcountry flying, the Aviat Husky line combines impressive short-field performance with rugged utilitarian toughness. This 2023 A-1C-200 ... read more
New Jersey To Demolish Historic Hangars At Andover-Aeroflex Airport
Tenants at New Jersey’s Aeroflex-Andover Airport (12N) have been ordered to vacate hangar space as the state moves forward with plans to demolish much of the airport’s aging hangar complex. While early reports sparked fears that the airport itself could close, state officials have since confirmed that Aeroflex-Andover will remain open as a public-use airport. In an operations update, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said the airport will continue offering outdoor grass tie-down space for ... read more
More Than 300 Drones Seized Near World Cup Venues
U.S. authorities have seized more than 300 drones operating near FIFA World Cup venues and fan zones since the tournament began on June 11, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Current restrictions prohibit drones and other aircraft from operating within three nautical miles of World Cup stadiums and up to 3,000 feet above ground level during matches unless specifically authorized. Separate restrictions also apply around official fan festivals ... read more
So You Want to Buy a Turbine Aircraft: Financing Guide
FLYING Magazine In the FLYING article “When Does an Upgrade From Piston to Turboprop Make Sense?” Matt Herr laid out the mission case for making the move—the hours, the routes, the crossover point where a turboprop stops being a luxury and starts being a business tool. Read it here first if you haven’t. The Piston to Turbine Transition Guide at covers the financial crossover analysis. This article picks up where both of those leave off—the money math behind actually closing on the ... read more
Pilot Peril: ‘Kenny’s Upside Down!’ the Voice Crackled Back
FLYING Magazine It was a brisk November morning. The weather was giving off all the inklings of a good day to fly. No snow on the ground yet, light winds, slightly overcast skies, and temperatures still hanging in the high 50s and low 60s. My buddy Brad had flown into my strip—a 1,500-foot cow pasture with a dogleg turn and the occasional mound of manure, courtesy of my cows. Every time I cleaned my airplane, it seemed like the next takeoff or landing splattered fresh cow pie across the ... read more
World Cup Matches Contend With Hundreds of Rogue Drones, Officials Say
FLYING Magazine The hundreds of millions of federal dollars that 2026 FIFA World Cup host states have used to acquire counter-uncrewed aircraft system (C-UAS) technology—from drone-catching nets to radio signal takeover devices—are being put to good use, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The TSA said Tuesday that federal air marshals have seized more than 300 drones during World Cup events since the tournament began on June 11. The FBI’s Los Angeles field ... read more
Airports Object To ADS-B Landing Fee Limits In Safety Bill
The American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) raised concerns Tuesday over a provision in the House Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency Act of 2026, or ALERT Act, that would limit the use of ADS-B data for airport fee collection. The issue surfaced during a Senate Aviation Subcommittee hearing focused on close calls, runway incursions and efforts to improve safety across the National Airspace System. Lawmakers also discussed the Senate-passed Rotorcraft Operations ... read more
Coast Guard Recovers 4 Crew With Minor Injuries After Alaska Helicopter Crash
FLYING Magazine The U.S. Coast Guard on Monday said it recovered four personnel with “non-serious” injuries after their Sikorsky MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crashed in Alaska during a training flight. The Coast Guard said watch standers at its Arctic District command center were alerted to the crash near Sitka, Alaska, around 10:07 a.m. local time on Monday, after the crew’s personal locator beacon was activated. Sitka Fire and Rescue personnel located the crew around 11 a.m. and flew them to ... read more
Senate Hearing Focuses On ADS-B In Mandate
A Senate aviation subcommittee hearing on Tuesday largely centered on ADS-B In as lawmakers reviewed recent close calls and runway incursions across the National Airspace System. The hearing was convened by Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space and Innovation. Witnesses included representatives from Airlines for America, the American Association of Airport Executives, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association and the Air Line Pilots ... read more
Bristow to Acquire Berry Aviation in $105M Transaction
FLYING Magazine Bristow Group—the world’s largest operator of Sikorsky S-92 and Leonardo AW189 and AW139 helicopters—is acquiring a fleet of fixed-wing aircraft as it seeks to expand its government services business. Bristow on Tuesday announced a definitive agreement to acquire Texas-based Berry Aviation from parent Acorn Capital Management for $105 million in an all-cash transaction, expected to close in the third quarter of 2026. Per Bristow, Berry makes about 72 percent of its revenue ... read more
Battle to Save Oregon’s Historic Hangar B Continues
FLYING Magazine “Thank you for the wake-up call.” That’s how Dallas Adams, president of the Friends of Tillamook Air Museum (FOTAM), opened his remarks to the board of the Port of Tillamook Bay last week in Oregon, referring to the May meeting where it voted 4-1 not to proceed with repairs to the roof of Hangar B that was heavily damaged by a windstorm in December. At that May meeting the board explained the decision was reached after months of discussion, financial analysis, and ... read more
FAA Picks ASI For Air Traffic Management Software
The FAA has awarded Air Space Intelligence (ASI) a 12-year contract to deploy new air traffic management software intended to help the agency schedule and manage flights across the National Airspace System. Reuters reported the contract is valued at $875 million. The award includes Flow Management Data and Services, or FMDS, which will replace the FAA’s existing Traffic Flow Management System, and Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes, and Trajectories, known as SMART, which will work ... read more
This 1960 Cessna 310D Is a Television-Famous ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1960 Cessna 310D. Recognized instantly by fans of vintage television, this particular twin-engine aircraft brings a phenomenal cultural pedigree to the ramp. Known affectionately as “Song Bird III,” it served as the ... read more
FAA Extends Northeast ATC Staffing Relief
The FAA has extended operating restrictions at Newark Liberty International Airport and related staffing relief at John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia and Ronald Reagan Washington National through the end of the summer 2027 scheduling season, according to Federal Register notices published Tuesday. At Newark, scheduled operations will remain limited to 36 arrivals and 36 departures per hour from 6 a.m. through 10:59 p.m. from Oct. 25, 2026, through Oct. 30, 2027. According to the FAA, ... read more
Beat the Heat: Mastering Density Altitude
FLYING Magazine Has density altitude affected your flight plans recently? Do you plan for it when you create those summertime flight plans? I ask because as I write this column Seattle is under a heat advisory. Temperatures are expected to reach into the 90s—for us that’s hot. We wear our Birkenstocks without socks. Lattes are served over ice. Even the salmon in the streams are sweating. For pilots, the heat rising means there will be an increase in density altitude, that theoretical ... read more
Get SMART: FAA Picks ASI for Predictive Air Traffic Management
FLYING Magazine Startup Air Space Intelligence (ASI), which claims its Flyways AI platform manages more than 40 percent of U.S. air traffic, beat out titans Palantir and Thales for an FAA contract to build a system that is capable of predicting airspace conditions months in advance. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on Monday awarded ASI a contract that Reuters reported is worth $875 million over 12 years. The contract covers the development of Strategic Management of Airspace, ... read more
JetZero Breaks Ground On Aircraft Factory
JetZero said last week that it has broken ground on its first aircraft manufacturing and final assembly campus in Greensboro, North Carolina. The 8-million-square-foot facility will be built on more than 600 acres and is planned as the production site for the company’s Z4 aircraft. JetZero said the project is supported by the largest state-level incentive package for a startup and is expected to create 14,500 jobs over the next decade. The company also announced renovation plans for The ... read more
On Board the ‘Bridge’ Air Force One
FLYING Magazine The next aircraft set to serve as Air Force One made its first public appearance on Friday, striking both a visual and symbolic contrast from the time-honored VC-25As that have flown the president since 1990. The jet, referred to by the military as the VC-25B Bridge, is a modified Boeing 747-8 donated last year by the government of Qatar to President Donald Trump. The Air Force has spent several months and an unclear amount of money modifying it to reach the exacting air ... read more
VC-25B Bridge Aircraft Arrives At Joint Base Andrews
The Air Force’s VC-25B Bridge aircraft has arrived at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland and will begin commissioning flights before entering the active executive airlift fleet. Commissioning Flights Begin According to the Air Force, the aircraft was delivered to the Presidential Airlift Group after receiving final government modifications and a new red, white and blue paint scheme. The commissioning flights will be used to validate the aircraft’s mission capability and finalize operating ... read more
2 Israelis, 1 Canadian Dead in Maryland Flight School Crash
FLYING Magazine Maryland State Police on Monday identified three young men who were fatally injured after their Piper PA-28 Cherokee crashed in the woods in Bowie, Maryland, on Saturday. State police said the single-engine aircraft’s pilot was Yoav Bomrind, a 26-year-old Israeli national. The two passengers were David Rabinovitz, 19, of Israel and Elad Neidik, 20, of Canada. All were pronounced deceased by medical examiners who arrived on the scene early Sunday morning following a ... read more
Dassault’s Falcon 10X is Finally Flying
FLYING Magazine Five years after Dassault Aviation announced its ultra-long-range Falcon 10X to compete with the likes of Gulfstream’s G800 and Bombardier’s Global 8000, the French manufacturer’s most ambitious business jet yet is airborne. Dassault pilots Sébastien Dupont de Dinechin and Fabrice Dougnac took off Friday from Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport’s (LFBD) runway 23 and flew the 10X for two and a half hours on its debut test flight. The aircraft bears the French experimental ... read more
Louisiana Governor Signs Ban on ADS-B Billing
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has signed HB 730, a bill prohibiting the use of ADS-B data to calculate, generate or collect fees or taxes from certain aircraft owners or operators in the state. The law applies to aircraft weighing below 12,500 pounds on Part 91 flights and goes into effect Aug. 1. The measure passed the Louisiana Senate unanimously and the Louisiana House by a vote of 91-8. Federal Debate Continues The issue has also become part of aviation safety discussions in Congress. A ... read more
Jessica Ambats Named FLYING Editor In Chief
FLYING Magazine has named Jessica Ambats as editor in chief as the publication prepares for its 100th anniversary. Ambats, who has been serving as FLYING’s deputy editor, will lead editorial coverage for the magazine’s print, digital and other platforms. She previously served as editor of Plane & Pilot and senior editor at Pilot Getaways. A pilot and air-to-air photographer, Ambats has also produced aviation photography that has appeared in aviation publications, books and other ... read more
This 2017 Cirrus SR22 G6 Is a Recently Inspected ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. An exceptional blend of high-performance engineering and top-tier safety are just two of the reasons the Cirrus SR22 has been the best-selling GA airplane since 2003. This 2017 Generation 6 GTS model represents a superb opportunity for ... read more
Jessica Ambats Named Editor in Chief of FLYING Magazine
FLYING Magazine FLYING Magazine has named Jessica Ambats as its next editor in chief, elevating the publication’s current deputy editor to lead one of aviation’s most storied media brands. In her new role, Ambats will oversee FLYING’s editorial direction across print, digital, and emerging platforms, as the brand approaches its milestone 100th anniversary. Ambats brings a rare combination of aviation editorial expertise, visual storytelling, and flying experience to the role. A pilot ... read more
FAA Investigating Boston Logan Close Call
The FAA is investigating a runway close call at Boston Logan International Airport after a Delta Air Lines Airbus A319 from Dallas performed a go-around Saturday while an American Airlines Boeing 737-800 was departing from an intersecting runway. According to the Associated Press, an estimate based on ADS-B data placed the two aircraft roughly 300 feet apart during Boston the incident. Delta Flight 2351 had 129 passengers and six crew members on board and landed safely after coordinating ... read more
New Zealand Provides World-Class Pilot Adventure
FLYING Magazine When I signed up for a cruise around New Zealand, I never imagined it would lead to some of the most spectacular aerial views I’ve seen in my 50-plus years of flying. It was a world of misty valleys, jagged peaks, and waterfalls spilling off sheer walls into dark fjords. In two and a half weeks and two general aviation flights, I learned that the pilots are friendly, the weather is challenging, and the flying is in a class of its own. I can’t wait to return. New Zealand, ... read more
Beyond English: How USIM Is Transforming Flight Training
FLYING Magazine An online training program created decades ago to teach aviation English to foreign pilots is finding a new purpose at an aviation college in the Midwest to educate future air traffic controllers (ATCs). USIM was created by Captain Alejandro Perez, an airline pilot from Mexico who realized that while English is the official language of aviation, aviation itself is a global phenomenon—and sometimes the language barrier leads to challenges and outright dangerous ... read more
FAA SMART Airspace Tool Could Demo In September
The FAA’s Strategic Management of Airspace Routing Trajectories platform, known as SMART, could begin its first operational demonstration in September, according to a FLYING report. Steve Fulton, an FAA senior certification adviser and technical pilot, said this week at the FAA/European Union Aviation Safety Agency annual safety conference that the first deployment will focus on en route airspace at 24,000 feet and above. The system is designed to use artificial intelligence, cloud ... read more
Alaska Airlines Names New President
Alaska Airlines on Wednesday named Chief Financial Officer Shane Tackett president and chief financial officer, expanding his role as the airline continues integrating Hawaiian Airlines and working through a series of leadership changes across Alaska Air Group. The appointment takes effect June 29. Tackett, who has been with Alaska for more than 25 years, will retain oversight of finance, fleet management, investor relations, supply chain, internal audit and information technology. He will ... read more
Dassault Falcon 10X Completes First Flight
Dassault Aviation’s Falcon 10X made its first flight Friday from Bordeaux-Mérignac, France, kicking off the aircraft’s flight test campaign. Test pilot Sébastien Dupont de Dinechin, along with Fabrice Dougnac, departed runway 23 at 11:10 a.m. local time and returned at 1:40 p.m. after a 2-hour, 30-minute flight. The crew evaluated handling qualities and aircraft systems at 15,000 feet before retracting the landing gear and movable surfaces, climbing to 40,000 feet and accelerating to Mach ... read more
This 1974 Cessna 172M Skyhawk Is an Upgraded, Well-Kept ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1974 Cessna 172M Skyhawk. After decades at the lower end of the used aircraft market, the Cessna 172 has risen in value rapidly during the past several years as individual private pilots shopping for personal ... read more
The Great Drone Debate: Grounded or Greenlit?
FLYING Magazine The FAA’s Part 107 rule regulating small uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), or drones, opened up new career opportunities for aviators, of whom nearly half a million have secured Part 107 remote pilot certification. According to Dacoda Bartels, chief operating officer of drone services provider (DSP) FlyGuys, Part 107 also created a “monster.” “When Part 107 came out, the barrier to entry wasn’t just lowered,” Bartels said. “It’s like they just dropped the thing on the ... read more
Mixed Messages On Retirement As Staffers Bid Farewell To VC-25A
White House officials took to X early Thursday to commemorate what they described as a final flight for one of the current Air Force One aircraft, even as the Air Force says the VC-25A fleet remains active. The aircraft, a heavily modified Boeing 747-200-based VC-25A carrying tail number 29000, returned to Joint Base Andrews after transporting President Donald Trump from Europe. The flight came as the Air Force prepares to add a VC-25B Bridge aircraft to the executive airlift fleet this ... read more
Taylor Flat Airstrip Reopens In Utah
Taylor Flat Airstrip (TF6) in northeastern Utah has reopened to pilots following a restoration effort led by the Recreational Aviation Foundation and Utah Back Country Pilots. The airstrip sits near the Green River and had been dormant for about 30 years before work began to return it to recreational aviation use. The RAF said discussions to reopen the strip began in 2023 and involved the Bureau of Land Management, Daggett County and RAF Utah Liaison Wendy Lessig. The process included a ... read more
White House Staff Bid Farewell to VC-25A
FLYING Magazine A heavily modified Boeing 747—referred to by the military as a VC-25A—that has flown U.S. presidents around the world for 35 years has likely operated as Air Force One for the last time. Shortly after President Donald Trump returned to Washington, D.C., from France early Thursday, two top White House officials posted tributes to the jet. “Well done, good and faithful servant,” communications director Steven Cheung wrote on X above a picture of the parked aircraft. He ... read more
Garmin Adds GFC 600 Autopilot STCs For Air Tractor, Piper Matrix
Garmin has received FAA Supplemental Type Certification for its GFC 600 digital autopilot in Air Tractor AT-802 and AT-802A models and Piper Matrix PA-46R-350T aircraft, the company announced Wednesday. The GFC 600 is designed for higher-performance piston singles and twins, as well as some turbine and jet aircraft. According to Garmin, the system includes standard autopilot modes such as altitude hold, vertical speed and heading, along with altitude preselect, indicated airspeed hold, ... read more
Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum Debuts Immersive New Layout
FLYING Magazine The Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum (EASM) in McMinnville, Oregon, has a new look—on the inside. The museum has just undergone what EASM CEO Scot Laney calls “a reset” to enhance visitors’ interaction with the aircraft on display by removing as many chains and barriers as possible but still maintaining safety—for example, to avoid hitting your head. “We’re not going to show you just the nose of the aircraft,” Laney said. “We will show you they have a back and a side ... read more
This 1959 Piper PA-24-250 Comanche Is a Classic Cross-Country ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1959 Piper PA-24-250 Comanche. Renowned for ushering in an era of sleek, low-wing efficiency, the Comanche remains a highly sought-after platform for pilots who prioritize impressive useful loads and swift cruising ... read more
World Cup Drone Violations Draw Federal Response
Federal officials have reported more than 100 reported drone incidents and enforcement outcomes since the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including seizures, mitigations and federal charges tied to temporary flight restrictions around stadiums and fan events. According to the Department of Homeland Security, authorities logged 145 drone incursions in restricted airspace across eight U.S. venues from June 11 through June 16. DHS said counter-drone teams mitigated 55 drones and seized 39 ... read more
Bye Aerospace Unveils Supplier Network Ahead of eFlyer 2 First Flight
FLYING Magazine As Bye Aerospace prepares for the first flight of its two-seat eFlyer 2 all-electric trainer, the Denver-based company is introducing the global partners supporting the development of its FAA-certified aircraft. “Our partners supporting the eFlyer 2 program represent some of the most respected names across the aviation industry,” said Rod Zastrow, CEO of Bye Aerospace, in a news release. “Their involvement reflects the low-risk approach and technical progress of the ... read more
FAA’s AI-Powered Air Traffic Management System Could Debut in September
FLYING Magazine The FAA this week provided fresh details on how Strategic Management of Airspace Routing Trajectories (SMART)—an artificial intelligence-powered air traffic management system designed to predict weather, traffic, and other conditions months in advance—will initially be deployed. Steve Fulton, an FAA senior certification advisor and technical pilot, said SMART’s initial operational demonstration will focus on en route airspace 24,000 feet and above, Aviation Week reported. ... read more
Air Force Awards Uncrewed Fighter Contracts
The U.S. Air Force said on Wednesday that it has awarded uncrewed fighter production contracts to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Anduril for the first part of the service’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. The contracts cover the General Atomics FQ-42A and Anduril FQ-44 semi-autonomous aircraft and were awarded four months ahead of schedule. “Collaborative Combat Aircraft change how we project power and generate mass in highly contested environments,” Air Force Chief ... read more
Officials Name 8 Victims in B-52 Crash
FLYING Magazine Edwards Air Force Base (KEDW) has officially named the eight crewmembers who died in Monday’s B-52 Stratofortress crash, which was one of the most fatal in the model and base’s history. Per a Wednesday afternoon update, the names were released following a mandated 24-hour waiting period to notify the victims’ next of kin. “It is with profound sorrow and a heavy heart that I can now share the names of the eight extraordinary Americans we lost during Monday’s B-52 crash,” ... read more
NetJets Crash in Texas Kills 1, Injures 5
FLYING Magazine One passenger was killed and five other people injured in the crash of a business jet onto Loop 20 in Laredo, Texas, on Tuesday night. The crash happened around 10 p.m. CDT. According to local authorities, the aircraft, a NetJets-operated Cessna Citation Latitude, had departed San José del Cabo, Mexico, and was originally headed to Austin, Texas. The crew reported a mechanical problem then diverted to Laredo International Airport (KLRD). Area of the crash on SkyVector ... read more
Winnebago County Approves Hangar Expansion At Wittman Regional Airport
Winnebago County supervisors have approved a major long-term development plan at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, clearing the way for new hangar construction and expanded aviation infrastructure at the airport’s aviation park. The decision authorizes a 50-year land lease with Arizona-based Volare Hangars for approximately 47 acres of county-owned land within Oshkosh Aviation Park. The developer is also moving forward with the purchase of roughly 30 acres of adjacent ... read more
Embry-Riddle Faces Pushback Over Rural Airstrip Training Plan
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s plan to develop a flight training facility at a rural airstrip in Lake County, Florida, is drawing sustained pushback from nearby residents as the proposal moves through local review. The project would upgrade Deep Woods Ranch Airport—a privately owned grass strip near Paisley, into a paved runway and add supporting infrastructure such as hangars and fencing. The university intends to use the site as a satellite training location for student pilots, ... read more
The Career Advantage Hiding in Plain Sight at US Aviation Academy
FLYING Magazine The question that matters most for many aspiring airline pilots is what happens after they get their certificates. Most flight schools don’t offer much in terms of an opportunity to build instructor hours after certification ends. On that front, US Aviation Academy is in a unique position. The Denton, Texas-based academy, now celebrating its 20th year of operations, has grown from a single building and a handful of aircraft into one of the largest professional pilot ... read more
Report: FAA, Airlines Must Do More to Protect Crews From Radiation
FLYING Magazine A congressionally mandated report published this month concludes that the FAA and airlines should do more to protect pilots, flight attendants, and other crewmembers from natural radiation exposure on the job. The report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM)—sponsored by the Transportation Department and required by the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024—calls on the agency to classify in-flight cosmic radiation exposure as an “occupational ... read more
Can Student Pilots Fly Through Military Airspace?
FLYING Magazine Question: I am a student pilot who has just entered the solo cross-country phase. I fly out of a nontowered airport that is near several military air bases. There is a flight instructor at the school that teaches the best practice is to plan a route that takes you around military airspace rather than through it. Does it take special training and an endorsement to fly through military airspace, or is it off limits to civilians? Answer: Unless there is a temporary flight ... read more
GAO: F-35 Readiness Continues to Decline
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is warning that the F-35’s combat readiness is falling even as the Pentagon ramps up a $13.7 billion effort to fix long-running sustainment problems, according to a newly released report. According to the watchdog, the mission capable rate—the percentage of time an aircraft can perform at least one assigned mission—declined from 67 percent in fiscal year 2021 to 44 percent in fiscal year 2025. The full mission capable rate, which measures the ... read more
Hop-A-Jet Urges FAA To Expand Engine Corrosion Mandate
Hop-A-Jet is urging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to tighten inspection requirements for General Electric CF34 engines after investigators linked a fatal Challenger 604 crash to undetected engine corrosion. In its final report, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that corrosion within the engines’ variable geometry (VG) systems led to compressor stalls and a near-simultaneous loss of thrust in both engines as the aircraft approached Naples Airport. The ... read more
This 1965 Mooney M20E Super 21/Chaparral Is an Efficient ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1965 Mooney M20E Super 21/Chaparral. Long celebrated as a favorite among budget-conscious aviators, the Mooney M20 series offers an unparalleled blend of cross-country speed and low operating costs. This 1965 M20E, ... read more
When the Sky Had No Ceiling for Pilots
FLYING Magazine The post-World War II general aviation boom made flying more accessible to many, including women either inspired by or who were members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) and wanted to continue to fly as civilians. Many became members of The Ninety-Nines, the international order of women pilots. When an opportunity arose for a cross-country flight among the members, one suggested “Let’s make it a race!” and the All-Woman Transcontinental Air Race (AWTAR), ... read more
One Dead In NetJets Accident In Texas
A NetJets-operated Cessna 680A Citation Latitude was involved in an accident Tuesday night on Loop 20 in Laredo, Texas, resulting in one fatality, according to the Laredo Police Department. Police said six people were on board the aircraft and five were taken to a local hospital in stable condition. Five police officers were also taken to a hospital for smoke inhalation after responding to the scene and assisting with the removal of occupants from the aircraft. The aircraft, registered ... read more
My Own Private GPS
FLYING Magazine The runway at the ancient temple site of Tikal in Guatemala was no more than a wide place on a dirt road. My airplane, less than a year old, was an alien being beside it, glowing against the shades of the forest and the faces of the inhabitants like a marble statue freshly sunken to the bottom of the sea. From Tikal it was to be an easy trip south to Guatemala City. But we needed fuel, and for that we stopped nearby at Flores. The airport, it turned out, was out of fuel. ... read more
FBI: Drones Part of Alleged Plot at White House UFC Event
FLYING Magazine Small, explosive-laden drones were allegedly part of a foiled attack on the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House on Sunday, FBI Director Kash Patel announced via social media on Tuesday. With well over 1 million drones registered in the U.S., incursions at sporting arenas, military installations, and other locations have become more rampant. Per an FBI affidavit filed with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, the White House is allegedly a target, ... read more
Regent Craft Finishes Electric Seaglider Production Center in Rhode Island
FLYING Magazine Regent Craft, the Rhode Island-based developer of electric, wing-in-ground effect (WIG) seaglider vessels, said Tuesday that it completed the facility that will anchor its global manufacturing activities. The 255,000-square-foot site at 1 Seaglider Way in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, will handle end-to-end production for Regent’s 12-passenger Viceroy craft, as well as Squire, its autonomous, hybrid-electric military variant. The company is also developing a ... read more
Tuesday Update: Eight Killed In B-52 Accident
Air Force officials have confirmed that eight people were killed Monday when a B-52 Stratofortress was involved in an accident shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in California. According to the 412th Test Wing, the aircraft was carrying eight people on a routine test mission when it went down on the Edwards airfield at 11:20 a.m. PDT. Col. James Hayes, deputy commander of the 412th Test Wing, said during a press conference Monday that the B-52 was supporting the radar ... read more
Edwards B-52 Crash Is One of History’s Deadliest
FLYING Magazine Monday’s fatal crash of a B-52 Stratofortress at Edwards Air Force Base (KEDW) in California, which killed all eight occupants, is one of the most tragic in the model’s and the base’s history. The accident was the deadliest involving the B-52 since 1982, when a Stratofortress crashed shortly after taking off from the former Mather Air Force Base (KMHR) in California and killed nine. The deadliest on record was in 1958, when two bombers collided and killed 13 occupants. In ... read more
Hop-A-Jet Seeks to Bolster FAA Engine Corrosion AD
FLYING Magazine Hop-A-Jet is calling on the FAA to strengthen an airworthiness directive (AD) on engine corrosion prevention. The private charter jet operator submitted comments in response to the agency’s release of a notice of proposed rule making (NPRM), Docket No. FAA-2026-3875, for certain GE CF34 engines. The AD was created in response to the investigation of a February 9, 2024, fatal accident involving a Hop-A-Jet-operated Bombardier Challenger 604 aircraft. The aircraft was on a ... read more
Your Tax-Free Card: How to Play the Second Half of 2026
FLYING Magazine In Monopoly, the “Get Out of Jail Free” card sits in your hand doing nothing until the exact moment you need it. Then it’s worth everything. The aircraft market in the second half of 2026 has handed serious buyers something similar: stabilizing rates, permanently restored bonus depreciation, and a brand-new aircraft certification category that takes effect during Oshkosh week itself. If you’ve been watching and waiting for the right moment, this is it. Play it right and ... read more
Garmin Pilot Adds New Weather Tools
Garmin said on Tuesday that it released a Garmin Pilot update that adds Daily Weather to Apple mobile devices, along with a new turbulence overlay and changes to Database Concierge. The Daily Weather feature had previously been available through Garmin Pilot Web, according to the company. Daily Weather gives pilots forecasts up to six days ahead, including hourly conditions for each day. A timeline in the Airports tab shows expected VFR, MVFR, IFR and LIFR conditions and can be adjusted to ... read more
NASA X-59 Hits Planned Supersonic Test Conditions
NASA’s X-59 research aircraft has reached the speed and altitude planned for future community overflight testing, flying Mach 1.4 and climbing to 55,000 feet during a June 12 test flight. According to NASA, the flight was the first time the aircraft reached both conditions in the same mission. The milestone follows the X-59’s first supersonic flight, which took place earlier in June at Mach 1.1. NASA said the aircraft still has several months of performance testing ahead before it begins ... read more
This 2022 CubCrafters XCub Is a Backcountry-Inspired ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2022 CubCrafters XCub. For pilots drawn to the untamed wilderness, balancing raw, off-airport performance with modern cross-country speed can feel like an impossible compromise. This shatters that limitation, serving ... read more
Avionics Exec Sentenced In Russia Export Case
Former Kansas aviation business executive Douglas Edward Robertson was sentenced on June 12 to 32 months in prison. He pleaded guilty on July 2, 2024, to export control and money laundering violations tied to avionics equipment exports to Russia, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas. Robertson, 58, of Olathe, Kansas, was formerly vice president of KanRus Trading Company, a Kansas-based business that supplied Western avionics equipment and repair services for ... read more
Uncertified Flight Instructor Sentenced to Prison Following Fatal Crash
FLYING Magazine A New Jersey flight instructor involved in a fatal aircraft accident after he had his pilot certificates revoked for a “lack of demonstrated competence” has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison. As previously reported by FLYING, 37-year-old Philip Everton McPherson II in 2025 pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and other charges stemming from a 2022 crash that killed a flight student. McPherson pleaded guilty to 43 of the 44 charges he faced in exchange ... read more
When the Learner Is Successful, the CFI Shares the Joy
FLYING Magazine When you master a skill in the aircraft, show improvement, or learn a piece of knowledge, does your CFI praise you? A simple “good job”? Or the more involved “check ride metrics have been reached”? If the answer is no, both of you are missing out on an important part of the educational equation. Praise stimulates remembering, and one of the best parts of being a teacher is when the students under your charge demonstrate that learning has taken place. It doesn’t have to be ... read more
FAA Reportedly Snubs Palantir, Thales for AI-Based Air Traffic Management
FLYING Magazine The FAA may be close to deciding who will build its envisioned Strategic Management of Airspace Routing Trajectories (SMART) system, an artificial intelligence-based platform that could predict airspace conditions months into the future in order to help airlines better plan for demand. The Air Current, an online aviation news service, on Saturday reported that Air Space Intelligence (ASI)—which claims its Flyways AI system already manages more than 40 percent of U.S. air ... read more
B-52 Crashes in California
FLYING Magazine A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in California on Monday. In a brief statement, base officials said the strategic bomber aircraft crashed at 11:20 a.m. PST. Emergency crews have responded to the scene, and the “situation is ongoing,” officials said. It was not immediately clear if anyone on board the aircraft or on the ground was injured. Edwards Air Force Base did not say how many people were on board at the ... read more
In Rare Move, IATA Approves ‘DJT’ Code for Palm Beach Airport
FLYING Magazine Not only will Palm Beach International Airport (KPBI) be renamed President Donald J. Trump International Airport, but the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in a rare move will change its location code. According to the association’s website, hundreds of electronic applications for passenger and cargo air traffic are built around these codes, which are almost never modified. Per a June 15 IATA special industry notification viewed by FLYING, the name and code ... read more
NetJets Petitions FAA For Longer Crew Duty Periods
NetJets Aviation has petitioned the FAA for relief from portions of Part 135 flight time and duty rules for Global 7500 operations, according to a Federal Register notice published June 12. Comments on the petition, docket FAA-2026-3840, are due by July 2. The request asks for an exemption from requirements under 14 CFR 135.269(b)(2), (b)(3) and (b)(4), which cover flight deck duty, duty hours and time aloft for unscheduled three- and four-pilot crews. Under the current rule, four-pilot ... read more
B-52 Accident At Edwards Air Force Base
A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress was involved in an accident Monday morning at Edwards Air Force Base in California, according to an alert posted by Edwards Air Force Base. “ALERT: A United States Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff on the Edwards airfield at 11:20 a.m. Emergency crews immediately responded to the scene and the situation is ongoing. More information will be provided as it becomes available,” the base said in the statement. No additional details ... read more
United Airlines’ Military Pilot Hiring Program Reaches New Milestone
FLYING Magazine United Airlines’ military pilot pathway program is nearing an important milestone ahead of July 4. Nearly 600 military pilots have transitioned to roles at United through the program since 2024, officials said Monday, with 500 more expected by the end of 2027. The initiative, which covers active-duty and active reserve military pilots, provides a conditional job offer as a United first officer. Candidates must be more than 12 months away from the date when they can start ... read more
Cape Air Aircraft Involved In Runway Excursion
A Cape Air aircraft arriving from Boston was involved in a runway excursion Monday morning at Provincetown Municipal Airport, according to a statement from the Town of Provincetown. The aircraft came to rest beyond the runway area after landing at about 8:12 a.m. The town said the aircraft was carrying three people, including two pilots and one passenger. No serious injuries were reported, although one person was transported to a hospital for evaluation. “The cause of the incident remains ... read more
F/A-18 Hornet Crashes in Washington National Forest; Pilot Safe
FLYING Magazine Officials at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego said in a statement that a jet assigned to the 3rd Marine Air Wing “experienced a non-fatal aviation mishap” during a training mission 55 miles southeast of Seattle on Saturday. According to officials, the pilot of the F/A-18 Hornet “ejected safely and was recovered by the local sheriff’s department.” READ MORE: Marine Corps Retires Harriers READ MORE: Arizona Museum Becomes New Home for Retired Marine Corps AV-8B ... read more
B-21 Flight Tests Add Combat Evaluation
The Air Force said last week it has added operational test pilots to B-21 Raider flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base in California. A recent flight placed a pilot from Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center Detachment 5 in the aircraft alongside a developmental test pilot as the program moves into work involving mission systems and weapons integration. “We put an operational test member in the pilot seat with an Air Force Test Pilot School graduate in the other,” Col. Matt ... read more
NASA’s X-59 Is Picking Up the Pace
FLYING Magazine The experimental, supersonic X-59, developed for NASA by Lockheed Martin, may be just months away from soaring over communities across the U.S. The X-59—sometimes dubbed the “Son of Concorde” for its potential to spur a renaissance in supersonic commercial flight—hit Mach 1 for the first time in June after a series of envelope expansion flights following its debut in October. On Friday, NASA said the aircraft achieved a speed of Mach 1.4 (about 924 mph) and altitude of ... read more
Pennsylvania Bill Would Create New Aviation Trust Fund
Pennsylvania state Sen. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie, introduced legislation June 5 that would create a new aviation trust fund, raise aircraft fuel taxes and add aircraft registration fees to support airport projects across the state. Senate Bill 1365, known as the Pennsylvania AIR Act, was referred to the Senate Transportation Committee the same day. According to bill text filed with the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the proposal would also make changes to the state’s Aviation Restricted ... read more
This 1978 Piper PA-28-161 Warrior II Is a Fresh-Prop ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1978 Piper PA-28-161 Warrior II. For decades, the Piper PA-28 series has served as a primary backbone for flight training and personal cross-country travel, celebrated for its exceptionally stable handling qualities, ... read more
11 Skydivers, Pilot Killed in Plane Crash
FLYING Magazine All 12 people on board a skydiving aircraft, including the pilot, were killed Sunday when the plane crashed near Butler, Missouri. The aircraft went down around 11:30 a.m. CDT, shortly after taking off from Butler Memorial Airport (KBUM), according to Sergeant Justin Ewing of the Missouri Highway Patrol. Of those killed, one was the pilot, and the 11 others were all skydivers, he said. It was not immediately clear what caused the crash. The FAA and the National ... read more
Paralyzed Pilot Goes Beyond His Limits
FLYING Magazine The Sierra Nevada has a way of telling the truth. Up high, the air is thin, the consequences are real, and the horizon keeps daring you to go one ridge farther. It’s the kind of country that makes a Carbon Cub FX-3 feel less like a machine and more like a key that unlocks backcountry places most people only ever see from a trailhead sign or satellite map. To me, it opens the door to something even bigger—a return to the wild places that shaped my life long before aviation ... read more
Check Out This Electric Air Taxi Simulator at the Dayton Air Show
FLYING Magazine Dayton, Ohio, could one day become an electric air taxi manufacturing stronghold after developer Joby Aviation picked it as its production hub in 2023. The hometown of the Wright brothers isn’t producing any eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft just yet. But this weekend, residents and visitors can try out an eVTOL simulator. Joby’s mobile flight simulator will be open to the public at the 2026 Dayton Air Show on Saturday and Sunday at Dayton International ... read more
NORAD Responds To More Than A Dozen NY/NJ TFR Violations
NORAD said Thursday that it responded to 15 unauthorized aircraft incursions into FAA-issued temporary flight restriction airspace in the New York and New Jersey region during the first part of June. The violations were reported during VIP movement near Morristown and Bedminster, New Jersey, which ran from June 5 through June 8. NORAD said F-16s intercepted a general aviation aircraft near Keansburg, New Jersey, on June 6 at about 1:40 p.m. EDT. Another aircraft was intercepted near ... read more
Flexjet Acquires TikTok-Famous The Jet Business
FLYING Magazine One of the most familiar faces in business aviation will take a leading role at Flexjet after the fractional ownership firm acquired London-based aircraft brokerage and advisory firm The Jet Business. Steve Varsano, who founded The Jet Business in 2011, has built the company—which claims to manage the “world’s first and only street-level corporate aviation showroom” in London—into a viral sensation, racking up 2.5 million followers and more than 1 billion views on TikTok. ... read more
More Money, More Rockets: SpaceX Targets $1.77 Trillion IPO Valuation
FLYING Magazine With a successful initial public offering (IPO), space launch provider SpaceX could achieve a higher market capitalization than Boeing, Airbus, GE Aerospace, RTX, and Lockheed Martin—combined. SpaceX launched its IPO on Friday, taking the company public after it spent decades securing a stranglehold on the global space launch industry. With an opening stock price of $135 per share and ambitions to raise $75 billion, the company is targeting a $1.77 trillion valuation that ... read more
Former NAAA President Rick Boardman Killed In Accident
Rick Boardman, a former president of the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) and longtime aerial application operator in Nebraska, was killed in an accident June 11. Lindsay Barber, NAAA director of communications and meetings, confirmed the death to AVweb but said no further details were available at this point. “Rick was the 2015 NAAA President, a respected industry leader and mentor to many in the aerial application industry,” Barber said. “His passion for agricultural ... read more
Garmin Expands Navigation Database Coverage To Africa
Garmin has expanded its aviation navigation database to include Africa, giving aircraft owners and operators using compatible Garmin avionics another option for keeping navigation data current on the continent. Announced by Garmin on June 11, the Africa coverage includes more than 40 countries and provides en route and airspace data, airport information, frequencies and instrument procedures. Garmin Pilot users in Africa will also have access to additional VFR data in South Africa, ... read more
Once-Shuttered Sonex Now Fully Operational
FLYING Magazine Sonex Aviation will be at EAA AirVenture in July in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The company, formerly known as Sonex Aircraft, shut down in March. Then on May 1, it was announced that all assets of Sonex Aircraft, including the Sonex Aerospace and AeroConversions lines, had been acquired by ON Capital Inc., led by Stephen Osborne. When FLYING reached out to Osborne in May, he asked us to “call him back” in June for an update. “We are back in business and getting parts and kits ... read more
This 1975 Cessna TU206F Is a Turbine-Converted ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1975 Cessna TU206F Turbine Conversion. For pilots seeking serious utility in a light aircraft, the Cessna 206 Stationair often is a top choice due to its load-carrying capacity and all-round strong performance. It ... read more
N.J. Man Gets 6½ Years In Fatal Training Accident
Philip McPherson II, 37, of Riverside, New Jersey, has been sentenced to 78 months in prison for a 2022 Pennsylvania accident that killed a student pilot during a flight out of Queen City Airport in Allentown. McPherson was also sentenced Thursday to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine, a $4,300 special assessment and $19,530 in restitution. U.S. District Judge John M. Gallagher further barred McPherson from working in the aviation industry. McPherson pleaded ... read more
LAPP Seeks Hearing On Burke Lakefront
The Lakefront Airport Preservation Partnership (LAPP) is asking Cleveland City Council’s Transportation and Mobility Committee to schedule a hearing on Mayor Justin Bibb’s proposal to close Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland. In a June 9 letter to council members, the group said airport tenants, users, operators and employers have not had a dedicated public forum to respond to the proposal. Cleveland City Council previously held a series of hearings on the airport’s future. Those ... read more
Even With Better Tools, Pilots Make Same Mistakes
FLYING Magazine On February 3, 1959, a chartered Beechcraft Bonanza carrying rock ’n’ roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson crashed just after takeoff from Mason City Municipal Airport in eastern Iowa when the pilot became disorientated as the flight encountered a snowstorm. According to investigators, at the time of takeoff the ceiling was 3,000 feet and visibility 6 miles. But the weather deteriorated along the route, and this information was ... read more
America’s Largest Drone Delivery Service Just Got Larger
FLYING Magazine Walmart—which owns the nation’s largest drone delivery service through a partnership with Alphabet’s Wing—this week announced plans to extend its operations in Texas and Georgia to seven new markets amid a push to serve 10 percent of the U.S. population by 2027. The partners in January revealed ambitious plans to offer drone delivery out of 270 Walmart locations, announcing they would bring Wing drones to Los Angeles, Miami, St. Louis, and Cincinnati. That came a ... read more
Gulfstream Delivers 100th G700
Gulfstream Aerospace announced Wednesday that it has delivered its 100th G700 and recorded the aircraft’s 100th city-pair speed record. “The G700 has once again set a new benchmark, firmly establishing itself as the business aviation industry flagship,” Mark Burns, president of Gulfstream, said. “As deliveries have increased, so has customer demand. Thanks to the investments Gulfstream and our parent company, General Dynamics, have made in next-generation manufacturing technology and ... read more
Aero Adds LA-to-Hamptons Route for Summer ’26
FLYING Magazine Semiprivate jet and charter service Aero is offering affluent flyers a direct trip from Los Angeles to the Hamptons in New York this summer. For a little over $7,500 a seat starting June 22, members can fly out of Van Nuys Airport (KVNY) in California into New York City, where they will transfer jet side to a Blade Air Mobility turboprop for the short final leg to East Hampton Airport (KHTO). Flights from Los Angeles to East Hampton will run Fridays between 11:30 a.m. and ... read more
This 2019 Cirrus SR22 G6 Is a Technology-Packed ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily Today’s Top Pick is a 2019 Cirrus SR22 G6. Finding the sweet spot between cutting-edge flight deck technology and immediate availability can be tough in today’s market, which is why this featured aircraft stands out as the gold standard ... read more
Ohio CAP Squadron Renamed For Vietnam-Era Air Force Pilot
A Civil Air Patrol (CAP) squadron based at Knox County Regional Airport in Mount Vernon, Ohio, has been renamed the Capt. Peter Hayden Chapman II Composite Squadron, honoring a local pilot who began flying at the airport before serving in the U.S. Air Force. A Centerburg, Ohio, native, Chapman, was killed in Vietnam on April 6, 1972. Chapman was part of the crew of an HH-53C Super Jolly Green Giant, which was shot down during an attempted rescue mission. The mission later became the basis ... read more
Air India Final Report Expected To Be Delayed
India’s final report on the Air India Flight 171 accident is expected to be delayed beyond Friday’s one-year anniversary. A source familiar with the investigation told Reuters Thursday that investigators are still completing analysis of the aircraft’s GE Aerospace GEnx engines. International accident investigation rules call for a final report within a year when possible. If that is not possible, an interim statement is issued on the anniversary. The Air India Boeing 787-8 was operating ... read more
Kansas Aviation Division Fosters Connectivity and Education
FLYING Magazine State aviation agencies are important for a variety of reasons, from guiding legislative policy and supporting airports to strengthening aviation safety and inspiring new aviators. One of the main functions of the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation is to oversee the growth and development of the state’s air transportation system. “One of our primary roles is administering the state airport improvement program, which is a $15 million annual grant ... read more
NASA Names Artemis III Crew
Aviation News – AVweb On Tuesday, NASA named the four astronauts who will fly aboard Artemis III, a key 2027 test mission designed to validate critical spacecraft operations needed for the agency’s return to the moon later in the decade. The crew consists of NASA astronauts Randy Bresnik, who will serve as commander, Frank Rubio, and Andre Douglas, along with European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano, who will act as pilot. A backup crew member has also been assigned as training ... read more
Bell Textron Lays Off 285 As MV-75 Transition Pressures Mount
Aviation News – AVweb Bell Textron has laid off approximately 285 employees across facilities in Fort Worth, Amarillo, Texas, and Wichita, Kansas, as the company adjusts staffing levels and transitions from development into production on key military programs. According to a Star-Telegram report, The reductions, confirmed through company statements and a letter from Bell CEO Danny Maldonado, affect workers primarily tied to the MV-75 next-generation tiltrotor program. In addition to the ... read more
NTSB Finds No Mechanical Anomalies in Fatal F-51D Crash
Aviation News – AVweb The National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB’s) preliminary report on the May 12 crash of a North American F-51D Mustang in Mound, Louisiana, found no evidence of a mechanical failure and indicates the aircraft was producing power when it struck the ground during an aerobatic practice flight. The accident killed pilot Dan Fordice, the sole occupant of the vintage warbird. The Mustang, N251CS, was destroyed in the crash at Vicksburg Tallulah Regional Airport ... read more
MQ-28 Ghost Bat Gains Range, Payload
Aviation News – AVweb Boeing announced a series of planned upgrades for its MQ-28 Ghost Bat Wednesday, including a larger wing, additional weapons capacity and beyond-line-of-sight communications. The company unveiled the updated configuration Wednesday at the ILA Berlin Air Show in Germany. According to Boeing, the revised aircraft has a wingspan more than 25% larger than the current version and increases maximum takeoff weight from 10,000 pounds to 12,000 pounds. “That additional ... read more
Continental Aerospace Returns to U.S. Ownership in $535 Million Arcline Deal
Aviation News – AVweb Continental Aerospace Technologies, one of general aviation’s most established piston engine manufacturers, is set to return to U.S. ownership following an agreement for Arcline Investment Management to acquire the company from subsidiaries of China’s state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). The deal, announced June 8, values Continental at approximately $535 million and ends roughly 15 years of Chinese state ownership that began when AVIC acquired ... read more
Downed Apache Marks at Least 43 U.S. Aircraft Damaged or Destroyed in Iran War
FLYING Magazine An Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter is at least the 43rd U.S. military aircraft to be damaged or destroyed during Operation Epic Fury. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the helicopter, which had been flying near the hotly contested Strait of Hormuz, was shot down Monday by Iranian forces and that two pilots were “safe and uninjured.” U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Tuesday morning that the pilots were “safely rescued” around 7:30 p.m. EDT on Monday after the ... read more
Meet Airbus’ Newest Uncrewed Additions
FLYING Magazine Two new uncrewed aircraft are on display at Airbus’ corner of the ILA Berlin Air Show in Germany this week. Airbus earlier this week said its booth at the air show would introduce the U145—an autonomous, uncrewed variant of its H145 helicopter. Joining the full-scale U145 mockup at ILA Berlin is a 1:1 scale model of the manufacturer’s U760 Ravenstorm, revealed Tuesday as the “next evolution” in its family of uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft (UCCA). Both designs will ... read more
This 1973 Beechcraft V35B Bonanza Is a Fresh-Engine ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1973 Beechcraft V35B Bonanza. After more than 75 years in continuous production, the V-tail model remains one of general aviation’s most recognizable silhouettes, and this 1973 V35B out of North Carolina makes a ... read more
The Fading Legacy of the NDB Approach
FLYING Magazine Question: I am working on my instrument rating and a lot of the talk in the FBO is about the instrument approaches that the FAA has put out of service. The airport used to have an NDB [non-directional beacon] approach, but that was replaced by an RNAV a few years ago. Pilots tell horror stories about flying the NDB. Are there any NDB approaches still out there, are they difficult to fly, and do I need to know how to fly one? Answer: According to the recently issued ... read more
Aviation Fuel-ishness Can’t Be Overlooked
FLYING Magazine Pilots who run out of fuel short of their destinations are rarely charged with a violation of the FAA’s fuel requirement regulation for flight in VFR conditions. FAR 91.151 reads: (a) No person may begin a flight in an airplane under VFR conditions unless (considering wind and forecast weather conditions) there is enough fuel to fly to the first point of intended landing and, assuming normal cruising speed—(1) During the day, to fly after that for at least 30 minutes; or ... read more
‘I’m always thinking where we would land’
AOPA General Aviation News The first sign that something was wrong wasn't a loud bang or sudden loss of power; it was a smell. Read More read more
Training and Safety Tip: Prepare your passengers
AOPA General Aviation News I recently flew with a first-time single-engine piston aircraft passenger. My plan was to do an hourlong local sightseeing flight, a route that I had done numerous times before and knew well. Read More read more
Turns to make a point
AOPA General Aviation News Michael Bremner is calling on fellow general aviation pilots to help him raise awareness of elder abuse, including financial crimes, and he plans to resume circling the famous piers in Santa Monica and Huntington Beach, California, on June 15 to mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Read More read more
Updated entry procedures in effect in Mexico
AOPA General Aviation News Just as pilots were getting used to the "Single Entry Authorization" procedures implemented in early 2024, the Mexican Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) has introduced an update for foreign-registered aircraft. Effective May 13, the previous 180-day authorization was rolled back; AFAC now requires that every domestic and international flight receive prior authorization from its central office in Mexico City before it can operate. Read More read more
FAA asks Arizona city to delay Falcon Field fees
AOPA General Aviation News The FAA has asked the city of Mesa, Arizona—the airport sponsor of Falcon Field—to delay implementation of landing fees that local flight schools say would cost them and their students millions of dollars per year. Read More read more
Heading West: Your Invitation to the Backcountry
Plane + Pilot Saturday morning at 2:30 a.m., I woke my dogs from their slumber, loaded them and our belongings into the car, and hit the open road. “Road? Don’t you mean the sky, Cayla?” Nope. I don’t. As cool and convenient as airplanes may be, their inability to pull a trailer full of your life’s possessions is a pretty significant limitation. Since I don’t own a Pilatus, I’ve been stuck driving for the last two days on my way to my new summer residence in Idaho. And honestly, I don’t ... read more
Plane + Pilot Podcast: Ken Wittekiend
Plane + Pilot In the latest episode of the Plane + Pilot Podcast, editor-in-chief Cayla McLeod sat down with longtime aviator, instructor, and writer Ken Wittekiend to discuss his extensive career in general aviation education and disaster relief operations. Wittekiend’s roots in aviation began in the mid-1970s while he was attending the University of Texas at Austin. Inspired by his father, who flew a P-51 at the end of World War II, Wittekiend decided to take a discovery flight in an old ... read more
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Is Fast Approaching
Plane + Pilot If 2026 didn’t already feel like it was flying by, here I am writing about EAA AirVenture. To be exact, we’re less than 44 days away. Needless to say, it’s time to start planning—if you haven’t already. For AirVenture veterans, I probably don’t need to explain the importance of preparation. But for the first-timers out there, buckle up. There are countless ways to experience AirVenture, and no two trips are exactly alike. Whether you’re planning on flying into the show, ... read more
Midwest Flying Resources: Essentials for Wisconsin and Michigan
Plane + Pilot Here are some suggested resources to help you prepare for flying in Wisconsin and Michigan: Recreational Aviation Foundation The RAF was established in Montana in 2003 and now serves to protect recreational aviation across the U.S. The organization is active in both Michigan and Wisconsin, with three state liaisons in Michigan: General Grant, Tanmoy Ganguly, and Scott Anttila. The Wisconsin liaison is Amanda Levin. You can find their contacts at TheRAF.org/state-liaisons. The ... read more
Zenith Aircraft Announces Dates for ‘Fly In to Summer’
Plane + Pilot Zenith Aircraft has announced it will host its annual “Fly In to Summer” event at Mexico Memorial Airport (KMYJ) in Missouri, home to the company’s manufacturing facility, on June 20. Set to run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT, the event will include demonstrator airplanes on the ramp for viewing during the day and self-guided tours available throughout the factory. In addition to providing customers and experimental enthusiasts a chance to visit where their kits are produced, ... read more
FAA asks Arizona city to delay Falcon Field fees
AOPA General Aviation News The FAA has asked the city of Mesa, Arizona—the airport sponsor of Falcon Field—to delay implementation of landing fees that local flight schools say would cost them and their students millions of dollars per year. Read More read more
Turns to make a point
AOPA General Aviation News Michael Bremner is calling on fellow general aviation pilots to help him raise awareness of elder abuse, including financial crimes, and he plans to resume circling the famous piers in Santa Monica and Huntington Beach, California, on June 15 to mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Read More read more
Updated entry procedures in effect in Mexico
AOPA General Aviation News Just as pilots were getting used to the "Single Entry Authorization" procedures implemented in early 2024, the Mexican Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) has introduced an update for foreign-registered aircraft. Effective May 13, the previous 180-day authorization was rolled back; AFAC now requires that every domestic and international flight receive prior authorization from its central office in Mexico City before it can operate. Read More read more
‘I’m always thinking where we would land’
AOPA General Aviation News The first sign that something was wrong wasn't a loud bang or sudden loss of power; it was a smell. Read More read more
Training and Safety Tip: Prepare your passengers
AOPA General Aviation News I recently flew with a first-time single-engine piston aircraft passenger. My plan was to do an hourlong local sightseeing flight, a route that I had done numerous times before and knew well. Read More read more
FLYING Magazine Announces 2026 Editor’s Choice Awards
FLYING Magazine FLYING Magazine has officially launched its new Editor’s Choice Awards for 2026. Designed to formally recognize the most outstanding products across the general aviation (GA) industry, this program highlights standout innovation as the brand readies for its centennial in 2027. Since its inception FLYING has been a leader in delivering our audience top-tier analysis on the latest developments in the industry. Our Editor’s Choice Awards will further that commitment. The 2026 ... read more
Why Consistent Study Defines Great Pilots
FLYING Magazine One of the more challenging aspects of being a flight instructor is when the learner struggles to recall the information they should have absorbed if they have been doing the assigned reading in ground school. CFIs can’t upload the information into their brains. That’s the learner’s responsibility. One of the more common excuses instructors hear is that the learner doesn’t have time to study. The brutal truth is that if you cannot learn to make time to study at the ... read more
NASA Program Explores Hybrid-Electric ‘Double Bubble’ Airliner Concept
FLYING Magazine A little-known NASA project is funding the study of a next-generation commercial airliner concept that combines turbofan engines, electric tail fans, and a unique “double bubble” fuselage designed to add lift. Hybrid-electric regional aircraft developer Electra on Monday unveiled the concept, which per the company’s analysis could deliver a 17 percent improvement on current projections for efficiency gains through 2050. The concept was borne out of NASA’s Advanced Aircraft ... read more
This 2024 Diamond DA40 NG Is a Sleek ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2024 Diamond DA40 NG. By marrying a sleek, aerodynamically clean composite airframe with the exceptional stability of a high-aspect-ratio wing, Diamond created a platform that is remarkably forgiving for student ... read more
Meet NASA’s Artemis III Astronauts
FLYING Magazine On Tuesday, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch—three of the four crewmembers on NASA’s historic Artemis II mission in April—literally passed the baton to the next four astronauts participating in the space agency’s lunar exploration program. “We’ve been carrying these batons around for way too long,” Wiseman told Randy Bresnik, who NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman on Tuesday named the commander of the low-Earth orbit (LEO) Artemis III mission. ... read more
AOPA seeks reconsideration of Starlink price hikes
AOPA General Aviation News AOPA and the International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations—representing 400,000 pilots from more than 80 countries—sent a letter to SpaceX CEO and founder Elon Musk, expressing concern about Starlink’s recent price increase for general aviation pilots. Read More read more
Piper Aviation Museum to expand
AOPA General Aviation News The Piper Aviation Museum in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, announced that its board of directors had approved a 9,600-square-foot addition to the existing facility. Read More read more
Open source ground school
AOPA General Aviation News Cutting the costs of flight training—but not the standards—Pilot Training System (PTS) is pushing open education principles into aviation. Read More read more
Training and Safety Tip: Silent yet safe
AOPA General Aviation News It may surprise you to learn that airplanes are not required to have two-way radios. That’s partly because the airplane predates the invention of radios portable enough to be aeronautically practical. Read More read more
Open source ground school
AOPA General Aviation News Cutting the costs of flight training—but not the standards—Pilot Training System (PTS) is pushing open education principles into aviation. Read More read more
Piper Aviation Museum to expand
AOPA General Aviation News The Piper Aviation Museum in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, announced that its board of directors had approved a 9,600-square-foot addition to the existing facility. Read More read more
This 1972 Piper PA-34-200 Seneca Is a Multiengine Trainer ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1972 Piper PA-34-200 Seneca. While its larger siblings in the Piper family—like the Chieftain—focused on heavy hauling and executive transport, the Seneca was designed to be an approachable, stable, and economical ... read more
AOPA seeks reconsideration of Starlink price hikes
AOPA General Aviation News AOPA and the International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations—representing 400,000 pilots from more than 80 countries—sent a letter to SpaceX CEO and founder Elon Musk, expressing concern about Starlink’s recent price increase for general aviation pilots. Read More read more
Training and Safety Tip: Silent yet safe
AOPA General Aviation News It may surprise you to learn that airplanes are not required to have two-way radios. That’s partly because the airplane predates the invention of radios portable enough to be aeronautically practical. Read More read more
Starlink’s Pricing Shift: A Bait and Switch for General Aviation
FLYING Magazine In late February and early March, Starlink abruptly restructured how its in-flight internet works for general aviation pilots—and many in the GA community are calling it a classic bait and switch. What was once an affordable and functional way for piston singles, light twins, and other GA aircraft to have reliable broadband at altitude has been dramatically diminished overnight. Before this change, pilots could use standard Roam or Priority plans with portable Starlink ... read more
26 States to Begin Electric Aircraft Trials This Summer
FLYING Magazine In a landmark moment for aviation innovation, the U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) on Monday announced 26 states to lead expanded, real-world testing of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis, short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft, flight autonomy systems, and other novel aviation technologies yet to be certified. The eight pilot projects selected under the eVTOL and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) —a three-year study ... read more
Aircraft Automation’s Double-Edged Sword
FLYING Magazine You know an aviation accident is going to end up a teaching tool when it’s still being talked about weeks after the National Transportation Safety Board releases the final report. Such is the case of the NTSB review of the crash that killed vlogger Jenny Blalock, known on YouTube as TNFlygirl, and her father on December 7, 2023. At the time of the accident, Blalock had approximately 400 hours total time and had held a private pilot certificate for approximately one year. ... read more
Israeli Strike Destroys Iranian F-14s
FLYING Magazine The Israeli Air Force said Saturday that it wiped out several Iranian F-14s, holdovers from a time when Washington and Tehran were on much friendlier terms. According to The Jerusalem Post, Israel bombed several F-14s parked at an airport in Isfahan, Iran. It was not clear exactly how many F-14s were destroyed. The F-14 subfleet makes up an important part of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, together with the MiG-29, Su-17, F-4, F-5, and Chengdu J-7. Grumman delivered ... read more
AOPA Mourns the Passing of Russ Meyer
AOPA General Aviation News FREDERICK, Md.—The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) mourns the loss of Russell W. Meyer, Jr., one of the most consequential leaders in the history of general aviation and longtime Chairman and CEO of Cessna Aircraft Company. Read More read more
AOPA Foundation Announces National Winners of Top Flight School, Instructor Awards
AOPA General Aviation News LAKELAND, Fla.—The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Foundation announced the national winners of its 2026 Flight Training Experience Awards—recognizing the country’s top flight school and top flight instructor—during an award ceremony on March 4 at Redbird Migration, which was held at the Aerospace Center for Excellence in Lakeland, Florida. Read More read more
AOPA Expresses Concern About Starlink Price Hikes for GA Pilots
AOPA General Aviation News FREDERICK, Md.—The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and the International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations (IAOPA)—representing 400,000 pilots from more than 80 countries—are expressing concern about Starlink’s recent price increase for general aviation pilots, which jumped from $50-$65 to $250-$1,000 per month. Read More read more
Falcon Field’s Landing Fee Proposal Sparks Battle Between Airport Tenants and Area Residents
FLYING Magazine The proposal to implement landing fees at Falcon Field Airport (KFFZ) in Mesa, Arizona, is generating pushback from airport tenants and users, but there’s support from residential neighborhoods surrounding it that perceive the charges as a means to reduce noise levels by reducing traffic. Falcon Field Airport has two parallel runways: 4L/22R, measuring 3,799 feet by 75 feet, and 4R/22L, measuring 5,100 by 100. The airport sits in Class D airspace beneath the Phoenix Class ... read more
AOPA Mourns the Passing of Russ Meyer
AOPA General Aviation News FREDERICK, Md.—The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) mourns the loss of Russell W. Meyer, Jr., one of the most consequential leaders in the history of general aviation and longtime Chairman and CEO of Cessna Aircraft Company. Read More read more
AOPA Foundation Announces National Winners of Top Flight School, Instructor Awards
AOPA General Aviation News LAKELAND, Fla.—The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Foundation announced the national winners of its 2026 Flight Training Experience Awards—recognizing the country’s top flight school and top flight instructor—during an award ceremony on March 4 at Redbird Migration, which was held at the Aerospace Center for Excellence in Lakeland, Florida. Read More read more
AOPA Expresses Concern About Starlink Price Hikes for GA Pilots
AOPA General Aviation News FREDERICK, Md.—The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and the International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations (IAOPA)—representing 400,000 pilots from more than 80 countries—are expressing concern about Starlink’s recent price increase for general aviation pilots, which jumped from $50-$65 to $250-$1,000 per month. Read More read more
This 2009 Cessna 182T Skylane Is a Constantly Hangared ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2009 Cessna 182T Skylane. For decades, the Skylane has occupied a sweet spot in general aviation—offering enough muscle to carry four adults and a full load of fuel without sacrificing the stable, docile handling ... read more
NTSB Member Says He Was Fired by White House
FLYING Magazine A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member who became the public face of the agency’s response to the fatal midair collision over Washington, D.C., last year was apparently fired by the White House late last week. In a statement, J. Todd Inman said he received notice from the White House Presidential Personnel Office on Friday that his position was “terminated effective immediately.” The notice was conveyed on behalf of President Donald Trump, Inman said. “To ... read more
Used Aircraft Guide: Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros
FLYING Magazine It started with a phone call from Mira Slovak, the legendary Czech pilot and Cold War-era defector who raced hydroplanes and won the first National Championship Air Races in 1964 at Sky Ranch, Nevada. “Mira had arranged to bring L-29s into the U.S. and was looking for buyers,” said Larry Salganek, owner of Jet Warbird Training Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. “I had been teaching aerobatics in Beechcraft T-34s at the time, and the L-29 was a good way to expand into ... read more
Flight School Fleet Guide
FLYING Magazine The flight training industry is standing at the precipice of a generational shift. For decades, the math of running a flight school was simple, if not entirely easy: acquire legacy airframes, maintain them diligently, and pass the predictable operating costs down to the student. Today, that equation is fundamentally broken. As we look toward 2026, flight school owners and Chief Flight Instructors are caught in a perfect storm. The acquisition cost of a standard 1970s-era ... read more
Volunteer Medics Will Fly This One-of-a-Kind Electric Aircraft
FLYING Magazine Volunteer paramedics in North Carolina will soon take part in a “proof-of-concept” program that will put them in the seat of an ultralight, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Hyde County Emergency Services in North Carolina will fly the aircraft manufactured by Palo Alto-based Pivotal, which said Friday that the project aims to accelerate emergency response times for “critical care calls.” The aircraft—which lifts off vertically like a helicopter but ... read more
Military Moves One Step Closer to Self-Flying C-130J
FLYING Magazine The U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is one step closer to flying the C-130J Super Hercules—one of its workhorse tactical airlift and transport aircraft—with zero human input. Boston-based Merlin Labs on Thursday announced the completion of preliminary design review (PDR) for its C-130J Super Hercules autonomy program with USSOCOM, under which it is working toward demonstration flights with a modified Hercules. Merlin said the PDR validates the integration of its ... read more
Washington Airport Recognized for Environmental Efforts
FLYING Magazine King County International Airport (KBFI), commonly known as Boeing Field, is again receiving recognition for its efforts to reduce its environmental impact. Boeing Field is the first airport in the U.S. to earn the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) Certification. IEnvA certification is a new international certification program that helps airports and other air transport industry stakeholders toward greater environmental ... read more
From Orchard to Airpark
FLYING Magazine For most pilots, flying is something you schedule your life around. A weekend hobby squeezed between work obligations and family commitments. But tucked into 4,200 acres of gated, pecan tree-lined property southwest of Fort Worth, Texas, a residential airpark community is making the case that it doesn’t have to be that way. Cayla McLeod, host of the Plane + Pilot Podcast, recently flew a Cirrus SR20 from Burnet Municipal Airport up to The Landings Airpark at Pecan ... read more
This 1971 Cessna 150L Is a Training and Time-Building ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1971 Cessna 150L. The Cessna 150 is a legend, even though its small size, relatively slow cruise speed and minimalist design tend to overshadow its true status. If we consider the big shoes this midcentury machine ... read more
Sharing a Harrowing T-38 Talon Training Tale
FLYING Magazine Pilot training in the U.S. Air Force has always been extremely demanding. Despite extensive preliminary screening, a high washout rate is typical. One out of three students washed out of my class even though the air war in Vietnam was reaching its peak and pilots were in demand. In those days, everyone went through an identical one-year program to earn their wings—two months flying the propeller-driven T-41 (Cessna 172), four months in the T-37 primary jet, and six months ... read more
GA icon ‘Russ’ Meyer Jr. mourned
AOPA General Aviation News A former fighter pilot who played a key role in saving the single-engine piston airplane from the scrap heap of history, Russ Meyer Jr. died March 4 in Wichita, Kansas. Read More read more
Dream of Building Rockets? ‘NASA Force’ Could Be Your Ticket
FLYING Magazine Newly minted NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman put his early stamp on the space agency with his announcement of “NASA Force”—a program he said will recruit “top aerospace, software, systems, and other critical technical talent” from the private sector to work at the space agency for two-year stints. Speaking at Andreessen Horowitz’s American Dynamism Summit on Tuesday, Isaacman said the injection of private sector talent will “provide mentorship and training and help season ... read more
Former Cessna CEO Russ Meyer Jr. Dies at 93
FLYING Magazine Russ Meyer Jr., longtime chair, CEO, and later chairman emeritus of Cessna Aircraft, now known as Textron Aviation, has gone west. Meyer, 93, died in Wichita yesterday after a brief illness. “The Textron Aviation team is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Mr. Russell ‘Russ’ Meyer Jr., who served as chairman and CEO, and Chairman Emeritus, of Cessna Aircraft Company for nearly three decades,” the company said in a media release. “Mr. Meyer was an aviation legend who ... read more
GA icon ‘Russ’ Myer Jr. mourned
AOPA General Aviation News A former fighter pilot who played a key role in saving the single-engine piston airplane from the scrap heap of history, Russ Meyer Jr. died March 4 in Wichita, Kansas. Read More read more
This 1967 Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee Is a Ready-to-Work ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1967 Piper PA-28 Cherokee. For decades, the PA-28 series has stood as the low-wing counterbalance to the Cessna 172, beloved by flight schools and private owners alike for its stable handling and easy entry via a ... read more
Skyryse Announces Emergency Autoland for Any Plane—Or Helicopter
FLYING Magazine Though they’ve been around for a few years, emergency autoland systems are still fairly unproven. Garmin Autoland—which is installed on more than 1,000 aircraft—got its first real-world test just a few months ago, performing admirably as it guided a Beechcraft King Air and its two occupants to safety. The capability has never been offered for helicopters. Leonardo, which is developing an emergency autoland for its AW169 for cases of low or zero visibility, is one of the few ... read more
Honeywell Files Paperwork For Aerospace Spinoff
FLYING Magazine Honeywell is one step closer to officially spinning off its aerospace unit as an independent business. The company on Tuesday filed a Form 10 registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for Honeywell Aerospace, which is expected to become a standalone enterprise later this year. Honeywell Aerospace will be organized into three segments, according to the filing—Electronic Solutions, Engines and Power Systems, and Control Systems. Electronic ... read more
Aircraft Maintenance: The dangers of expectation bias
AOPA General Aviation News Humans are naturally wired to recognize patterns, and to perceive patterns that fit our expectations. When flying or maintaining an aircraft, perceiving what we expect to see and missing what is right there in front of us can be costly—or even fatal. Read More read more
Starlink raises prices for GA pilots
AOPA General Aviation News Starlink sent an email to users of its Roam and Priority satellite internet plans detailing a new maximum supported in-motion speed of 100 mph (87 knots), effectively limiting a Starlink device’s use under those plans in the vast majority of general aviation aircraft. Read More read more
Be counted
AOPA General Aviation News It's an invitation-only opportunity not to be missed: the annual survey of general aviation aircraft owners that the FAA conducts to calculate hours flown and allocate resources. Read More read more
RTX Seeks Larger Role in FAA’s $12.5B ATC Overhaul
FLYING Magazine RTX, which in January received a $438 million contract to help the FAA replace hundreds of antiquated radar systems, is reportedly vying for an even larger chunk of the $12.5 billion Congress has allocated for the agency’s Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS) effort. On Tuesday at RTX facilities in Washington, Collins Aerospace officials demonstrated a system designed to unify fragmented ATC data sources, which the company, per FlightGlobal, will pitch to the FAA ... read more
Be counted
AOPA General Aviation News It's an invitation-only opportunity not to be missed: the annual survey of general aviation aircraft owners that the FAA conducts to calculate hours flown and allocate resources. Read More read more
This 2023 Vashon Ranger R7 Glacier Is a Nearly-New ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2023 Vashon Ranger R7 Glacier. In a market often caught between aging, high-time trainers and prohibitively expensive new composites, the Vashon Ranger R7 was designed to fill a critical gap. This all-metal S-LSA ... read more
Why News Helicopters Are Critical for Covering LA Breaking News
FLYING Magazine Los Angeles is notorious for gridlock traffic and known for being what some call the police pursuit capital of the world. In the No. 2 television market in the country, getting to breaking news or those high-speed chases quickly usually involves doing so from the air. Television stations across the country use ENG (electronic news gathering) helicopters as a tool to capture news live. However, as costs have tightened in newsrooms, the number of helicopters has decreased ... read more
Starlink raises prices for GA pilots
AOPA General Aviation News Starlink sent an email to users of its Roam and Priority satellite internet plans detailing a new maximum supported in-motion speed of 100 mph (87 knots), effectively limiting a Starlink device’s use under those plans in the vast majority of general aviation aircraft. Read More read more
Aircraft Maintenance: The dangers of expectation bias
AOPA General Aviation News Humans are naturally wired to recognize patterns, and to perceive patterns that fit our expectations. When flying or maintaining an aircraft, perceiving what we expect to see and missing what is right there in front of us can be costly—or even fatal. Read More read more
Canavia Expands Fleet With New Tecnam P2006T NG
FLYING Magazine Canavia Aviation Academy, based in the Canary Islands, has taken delivery of a new multiengine P2006T NG. The acquisition brings Canavia’s Tecnam fleet to nine aircraft, which includes six P2008JCs and three P2006Ts. Canavia is a certified Approved Training Organisation (ATO) based in Gran Canaria. For the past 16 years the school has offered professional pilot training for students who seek careers at airlines. The school operates from a private airport in El Berriel, ... read more
How Do You Get All the Water Out of the Fuel Tank?
FLYING Magazine Question: I am a low-time pilot in a rainy part of the world. I know we’re supposed to check the fuel for contamination during the preflight inspection, but how do you make sure you get all the water contamination out of the fuel tank? A guy at my airport tells a story about the time his engine quit just after takeoff because there was water in the fuel. The airplane had been on the ramp in the rain for a few days, and he sumped it and got a clean sample, but it still ... read more
Chart Wise: Tucson (KTUS) VOR or TACAN Rwy 2
FLYING Magazine Headed to Tucson, Arizona, for some warmer winter weather? To see nearby national parks or even to visit the Pima Air & Space Museum? If you fly in yourself, you might just use the VOR or TACAN RWY 12 for an approach. This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine If you're not already a subscriber, what are you waiting for? Subscribe today to get the issue as soon as it is released in either Print or Digital formats. Subscribe ... read more
Hyundai’s Supernal Air Taxi Arm Lays Off 296 Staffers
FLYING Magazine Supernal, the U.S.-based electric air taxi unit of Korean automaker Hyundai, laid off most of its staff last week in a “strategic pivot,” according to a company spokesperson. The spokesperson said 296 employees—about 80 percent of the company’s workforce—were let go Friday to “ensure our staffing and cost structures are optimized for the long-term delivery of our market-aligned aircraft design.” Supernal last year began tethered flight testing using a demonstrator for its ... read more
Thrust Flight Lands Pilot Training Contract With Phoenix Police
FLYING Magazine Thrust Flight, based at Falcon Field Airport (KFFZ) in Arizona, has picked up a contract to provide fixed-wing pilot training for members of the Phoenix Police Department. According to school officials, this is the first time Thrust Flight, a noted accelerated training program, has worked with a municipal law enforcement agency. Training began on March 1. Thrust Flight will deliver ratings for private pilot (PPL), commercial pilot (CPL), instrument rating (IR), certified ... read more
Hermeus Flies Second Supersonic Test Plane in Nine Months
FLYING Magazine For the second time in just over nine months, an Atlanta-based company this week debuted a new supersonic test aircraft. Hermeus on Monday said it completed the maiden flight of its Quarterhorse Mk 2.1, one of several test articles the company is developing as it iterates toward its flagship Darkhorse—a reusable, multi-mission, hypersonic uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) for defense and national security missions. The sortie followed the debut test flight of the company’s ... read more
Senate Confirms DeLeeuw for NTSB Position
FLYING Magazine The U.S. Senate last week voted to confirm American Airlines executive John DeLeeuw as the newest member of the National Transportation Safety Board. DeLeeuw, nominated by President Donald Trump in September, serves as the managing director of safety and efficiency at American. According to The New York Times, the Senate’s vote was split along party lines. DeLeeuw will fill a vacancy left by the White House’s removal of NTSB vice chair Alvin Brown in May 2025. Brown, a ... read more
Reducing checkride delays
AOPA General Aviation News To ease growing checkride backlogs, ATP Flight School is using a new internal scheduling calendar that improves visibility into its own examiner availability. Read More read more
Reducing checkride delays
AOPA General Aviation News To ease growing checkride backlogs, ATP Flight School is using a new internal scheduling calendar that improves visibility into its own examiner availability. Read More read more
Training and Safety Tip: Sweat the details
AOPA General Aviation News During preparation for a recent flight, a pilot colleague ahead of me experienced a minor crisis when his aircraft began to spew fuel on its departure run. Read More read more
Maintain clear, comfortable vision with Claroxan Advanced
AOPA General Aviation News For pilots and aircraft owners, clear vision is essential to everyday flying. Whether you’re navigating busy airspace, monitoring instruments, or flying at dusk, visual comfort and clarity play an important role in confidence and safety. Read More read more
This 1942 Boeing-Stearman B75N1 Is a ‘Barn Find’ ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1942 Boeing-Stearman B75N1. For pilots and collectors dreaming of a classic radial-engine biplane, this Stearman presents a compelling diamond-in-the-rough opportunity. The Stearman served as the primary trainer for ... read more
Training and Safety Tip: Sweat the details
AOPA General Aviation News During preparation for a recent flight, a pilot colleague ahead of me experienced a minor crisis when his aircraft began to spew fuel on its departure run. Read More read more
Maintain clear, comfortable vision with Claroxan Advanced
AOPA General Aviation News For pilots and aircraft owners, clear vision is essential to everyday flying. Whether you’re navigating busy airspace, monitoring instruments, or flying at dusk, visual comfort and clarity play an important role in confidence and safety. Read More read more
In First, North Dakota UAS Test Site Plugs Into FAA Radar Data
FLYING Magazine North Dakota is taking the lead on integrating uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS)—from small drones to self-flying air taxis—through a first-of-its-kind arrangement with the FAA. The state’s Northern Plains UAS Test Site—which oversees Vantis, a statewide UAS traffic management network—is now managing uncrewed drones using unfiltered data straight from the state’s four FAA radars, becoming the first nonfederal entity with that kind of access. The state is working with partners ... read more
What’s New With the Flight Review?
FLYING Magazine I have just returned from Billings, Montana, where I had the honor of attending the Montana Aviation Conference. The annual event is three days of aviation organizations and pilots gathering to attend workshops and seminars, view exhibit wares, and listen to speakers. I was one of the speakers, administering the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Rusty Pilots seminar. I have been traveling around the country doing these seminars since 2017, and I must say they ... read more
AOPA’s Air Safety Institute Releases Early Analysis of Steamboat Springs, Colorado Crash
AOPA General Aviation News FREDERICK, Md.—The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Air Safety Institute (ASI) has released a new video providing an early look at last week’s crash that left four people dead south of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Read More read more
AOPA Statement on House Vote on ROTOR Act
AOPA General Aviation News WASHINGTON—The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) issued the following statement from Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Advocacy Jim Coon after the House of Representatives did not pass the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act: Read More read more
AOPA Welcomes Bipartisan Bill to Equip Remaining Towers with Surveillance Technology
AOPA General Aviation News WASHINGTON—The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) welcomes the introduction of the Air Traffic Situational Awareness Enhancement Act, which would equip the remaining 90+ air traffic control towers without radar or other surveillance technology with a cost-effective tool that enhances safety for pilots and situational awareness for air traffic controllers. Read More read more
AOPA backs bill to equip all contract towers with ADS-B
AOPA General Aviation News A bipartisan group of senators introduced the Air Traffic Situational Awareness Enhancement Act, which would equip more than 90 air traffic control towers operating without radar or other surveillance technology with a cost-effective ADS-B-based solution. Read More read more
Lessons before the accident
AOPA General Aviation News Ask a new pilot what scares them most and the majority will say the radio—they worry about saying the wrong thing, interrupting someone, or sounding like a beginner. Read More read more
Understand Your Why
Plane + Pilot As some of you know, I’ve been neck-deep in my instrument rating. After scoring a 90 pecent on the written exam in November—thanks to the wonders of Sheppard Air—this rating has become the center of my universe, alongside my duties at Plane + Pilot. My original goal was to take my check ride by the end of January. However, once flight training began, I was quickly humbled by the sheer volume of wisdom and technical understanding required. Despite flying four to five times a ... read more
AOPA’s Air Safety Institute Releases Early Analysis of Steamboat Springs, Colorado Crash
AOPA General Aviation News FREDERICK, Md.—The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Air Safety Institute (ASI) has released a new video providing an early look at last week’s crash that left four people dead south of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Read More read more
AOPA Statement on House Vote on ROTOR Act
AOPA General Aviation News WASHINGTON—The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) issued the following statement from Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Advocacy Jim Coon after the House of Representatives did not pass the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act: Read More read more
AOPA Welcomes Bipartisan Bill to Equip Remaining Towers with Surveillance Technology
AOPA General Aviation News WASHINGTON—The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) welcomes the introduction of the Air Traffic Situational Awareness Enhancement Act, which would equip the remaining 90+ air traffic control towers without radar or other surveillance technology with a cost-effective tool that enhances safety for pilots and situational awareness for air traffic controllers. Read More read more
The Aircraft Behind the U.S. Strikes on Iran
FLYING Magazine The U.S. military is using a wide range of crewed aircraft, drones, ships, and missile systems in its air campaign against Iran, amounting to the largest regional concentration of American firepower “in a generation,” according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). In an overview released Sunday, military officials said over 1,000 targets have been struck inside Iran since Operation Epic Fury began Saturday morning. Among the aircraft taking part in the operation are B-2 ... read more
AOPA backs bill to equip all contract towers with ADS-B
AOPA General Aviation News A bipartisan group of senators introduced the Air Traffic Situational Awareness Enhancement Act, which would equip more than 90 air traffic control towers operating without radar or other surveillance technology with a cost-effective ADS-B-based solution. Read More read more
Lessons before the accident
AOPA General Aviation News Ask a new pilot what scares them most and the majority will say the radio—they worry about saying the wrong thing, interrupting someone, or sounding like a beginner. Read More read more
Mystery ‘Project Autobahn’ Eyes Florida Airport
FLYING Magazine A mysterious aerospace project involving a “very well-established and enormously respected organization” is afoot in Florida. That’s how Greg Donovan, executive director of Melbourne Orlando International Airport (KMLB), described the architect of “Project Autobahn”—a confidential undertaking that could be based out of a 176-acre site at the airport. Florida Today on Monday reported that the Melbourne Airport Authority voted unanimously to approve a pair of lease options ... read more
This 1946 Cessna 140 Is a Time Capsule ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1946 Cessna 140. For many, the postwar golden age of general aviation is best summarized by the Cessna 120/140 series. While the 120 was the bare-bones trainer, the 140 was the deluxe model, featuring wing flaps, ... read more
U.S. F-15Es Accidentally Shot Down Over Kuwait
FLYING Magazine Three U.S. Air Force F-15E aircraft were accidentally shot down over Kuwait on Sunday while supporting combat operations against Iran. According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the fighter jets “were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses.” All six crewmembers ejected safely and were recovered, and are now in “stable condition,” officials said. The aircraft were flying in support of Operation Epic Fury, the joint U.S.-Israel air campaign against Iran that began ... read more
Tucson Provides GA Gateway to Military Aviation History
FLYING Magazine Tucson, Arizona, is typically known for superb year-round weather with ample outdoor recreation, an intense night sky, and distinct Southwestern culture. But pilots should know it as one of the country’s best aviation destinations. Whether you are visiting via Tucson International Airport (KTUS), Ryan Airfield (KRYN), or Marana Regional Airport (KAVQ), there are a variety of great things to do once on the ground. An aviator’s short list should include one of the world’s ... read more
Why Chinese Drone Maker DJI Is Suing the FCC
FLYING Magazine China’s DJI—the global titan of the consumer drone industry—is suing the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over the agency’s decision to throttle its American business. DJI last week filed a petition for review in the U.S. Ninth Circuit court, contesting the FCC’s move to add foreign drone manufacturers to its Covered List—a federal blacklist that effectively bans the sale or import of the company’s drones and components—for national security reasons. Should DJI ... read more
Photos of the Week: Feb. 23-27, 2026
Plane + Pilot There’s something about a photo flight that I just love. From the act of pure formation flying to the raw adrenaline of never exactly knowing what shot is going to be the “money shot,” there’s a rush and thrill that’s hard to describe. At the heart of the photo shoot, of course, are the airplanes. In this case, it’s the Cirrus SR20 flying off a straight-tail C182 photo ship over the skies of Austin, Texas. But also at the heart of the shoot is the photographer. This ... read more
NTSB Says ALERT Act Falls Short of Safety Goals
FLYING Magazine The leadership of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Thursday that it cannot support the ALERT Act, an aviation safety bill advanced by Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives. In a letter addressed to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Sam Graves and Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers—both major backers of the ALERT Act—NTSB officials said the bill incorporates some but not all of the safety recommendations included ... read more
Museum of Flight and Peninsula School District Launch Aviation Academy
FLYING Magazine It used to be that high school students with an interest in aeronautical science had few options to nurture that interest. That’s changed in Washington state as the Aeronautical Science Pathway (ASP) program hosted by the Museum of Flight in Seattle is growing to now serve the Peninsula School District. Since 2016 the Museum of Flight (MOF), in partnership with Green River College and the Puget Sound Skills Center, has hosted the ASP program, which permits high school ... read more
This 1983 Cessna T210N Centurion Is a Fast, Heavy-Hauling ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1983 Cessna T210N Centurion. Development of Cessna’s 210 dates back to 1955 when the “eternal quest for more speed and range” led the company to consider a retractable landing gear for the 182, according to William ... read more
Pentagon Anti-Drone Laser Prompts 2nd Texas Airspace Closure
FLYING Magazine Members of Congress on Thursday said their “heads are exploding” over reports that the Pentagon used a high-energy anti-drone laser to shoot down an uncrewed aerial system (UAS) belonging to Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The statement from Representatives Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), André Carson (D-Ind.), and Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.)—all ranking members on House committees or subcommittees dealing with transportation or national security—came as multiple outlets reported ... read more
Archer to Add Starlink to Midnight Electric Air Taxi
FLYING Magazine Powered-lift aircraft, such as electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis, are the FAA’s first new category of aircraft since helicopters were introduced in the 1940s. At least some of those state-of-the-art aircraft could have state-of-the-art internet. Archer Aviation on Friday revealed plans to integrate and test SpaceX’s Starlink internet service on its flagship Midnight. The company envisions providing high-speed connectivity for the air taxi’s four ... read more
Military Influence Can Be Felt All Over General Aviation
FLYING Magazine The next time you pick up the checklist of your aircraft, remember this: It was created because of a horrible day in October 1935 when the Boeing Model 299 (XB-17), the prototype of the B-17, crashed during takeoff from Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio, in what was supposed to be a demonstration flight to earn a military contract. The four-engine aircraft was the fastest and the most technologically advanced aircraft of the time. According to the official accident report, the ... read more
Plane + Pilot Podcast: Mike Murphy
Plane + Pilot In this episode of the Plane + Pilot Podcast, editor-in-chief Cayla McLeod visits The Landings at Pecan Plantation in Texas to sit down with Mike Murphy, the community’s sales manager. What began in the 1940s as the largest active pecan orchard in the country has since transformed into a sprawling 4,200-acre gated aviation oasis in Granbury, about 35 miles west of Forth Worth. Murphy explains how the development, which sits along 15 miles of the Brazos River, was built with ... read more
The High Sierra Fly-In
Plane + Pilot Approximately 260 nm south west of Boise, Idaho (KBOI) and 33 nm north east of Reno, Nevada (KRNO) sits a general aviation gathering like nowhere else. It’s a meeting of the backcountry, off-airport minds, STOL Drag adrenaline junkies, and believe it or not, average Jims and Janes. This is the High Sierra Fly-In, and it takes place on the Dead Cow Lakebed in the Nevada desert the first week of most Octobers. Known as the birthplace of the infamous STOL Drag racing series, ... read more
AV-30-C gains ForeFlight integration, advanced autopilot
AOPA General Aviation News Certified aircraft equipped with the uAvionix AV-30-C can now wirelessly receive flight plans and enhance navigation capability. Read More read more
Florida bill joins list of ADS-B fee bans nationwide
AOPA General Aviation News Florida lawmakers are considering legislation to limit the use of ADS-B for fee collection, joining a growing list of states prioritizing safety over airport revenue as AOPA pushes for a federal law to that effect. Read More read more
Widow of Pilot Killed in UPS Crash Sues Boeing, GE
FLYING Magazine The widow of a pilot killed in the crash of a UPS MD-11 in Louisville, Kentucky, last year is suing Boeing and General Electric. Attorneys representing the spouse of Dana Justin Diamond announced the lawsuit Thursday, after it was filed in circuit court in Jefferson County, Kentucky. Diamond, of Caldwell, Texas, was serving as an international relief officer on the accident flight. The lawsuit names Boeing, General Electric, and maintenance provider VT San Antonio Aerospace ... read more
Florida bill joins list of ADS-B fee bans nationwide
AOPA General Aviation News Florida lawmakers are considering legislation to limit the use of ADS-B for fee collection, joining a growing list of states prioritizing safety over airport revenue as AOPA pushes for a federal law to that effect. Read More read more
NASA Studied Air Taxi Noise—The Results May Surprise You
FLYING Magazine According to NASA, background noise impacts the way people react to the buzzing and whirring of electric air taxis—but not in the way you might think. The space agency this month released the initial findings from its Varied Advanced Air Mobility Noise and Geographic Area Response Difference, or VANGARD, study. The research’s most notable conclusion is that people living in areas with high background noise (think urban centers such as New York City) tend to report more ... read more
Former Air Force Instructor Charged With Training Chinese Pilots
FLYING Magazine A former U.S. Air Force officer and pilot is accused of illegally training members of the People’s Liberation Army. Gerald Brown Jr. was arrested Wednesday in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and charged with providing and conspiring to provide defense services to Chinese military pilots without authorization, according to the U.S. Justice Department. His actions violated the Arms Export Control Act, prosecutors said. Brown was set to appear before a magistrate judge in the ... read more
This 1980 Mooney M20K 305 Rocket Is a High-Speed ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1980 Mooney M20K 305 Rocket. Efficiency is often the polite industry term for “modest speed,” but in the world of Mooney, it has always meant doing more with less. While the factory M20K was already a respectably ... read more
AV-30-C gains ForeFlight integration, advanced autopilot
AOPA General Aviation News Certified aircraft equipped with the uAvionix AV-30-C can now wirelessly receive flight plans and enhance navigation capability. Read More read more
How Uber Plans to Launch Electric Air Taxi Flights in 2026
FLYING Magazine Uber as soon as this year will add a quiet, all-electric, aerial complement to its ground-based ride-hailing platform. Uber and Joby Aviation on Thursday unveiled “Uber Air”—a new, on-demand service using Joby’s four-passenger, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi. Joby said it expects to carry its first passengers later this year in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where the partners shared a first look at Uber Air during a product and flight ... read more
NTSB Issues BPRS Warning for First Responders
FLYING Magazine A Ballistic Parachute Recovery System (BPRS) is a fancy name for a parachute attached to an aircraft that can save lives when there is an uncommanded loss of engine power or the aircraft enters a spin. But on the ground, the undeployed BPRS can be dangerous due to the rocket that fires to deploy the parachute. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Office of Aviation Safety has released a new safety alert—On-Scene Hazards of Ballistic Parachute Recovery Systems—to ... read more
Archer Accuses Vertical of Ripping Off Electric Air Taxi Design
FLYING Magazine A leading American developer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis is accusing its main overseas rival of “copying” its flagship design. Archer Aviation on Monday filed a complaint with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, alleging that the design of competitor Vertical Aerospace’s Valo infringes on patents awarded for its Midnight air taxi. Archer claims Valo, unveiled in December, is “markedly different” from Vertical’s VX4 ... read more
Pratt & Whitney Plans $200M Expansion of Georgia Facility
FLYING Magazine Aircraft engine maker Pratt & Whitney will spend $200 million to grow its manufacturing sites in Columbus, Georgia, a move intended to increase production of critical parts. The company announced Tuesday that it will add a seventh isothermal forging press at its Columbus Forge facility. The press, expected to become operational by 2028, will boost output of components such as rotating compressor and turbine disks by 30 percent to support GTF, F135, and other engine ... read more
This 1976 Beechcraft V35B Bonanza Is a High-Utility ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1976 Beechcraft V35B Bonanza. Few silhouettes in aviation are as iconic or as instantly recognizable as the Beechcraft V-tail Bonanza. For decades, the V35B has reigned as the gold standard for high-performance, ... read more
ATC App Alerted Users to El Paso TFR Within Minutes
FLYING Magazine “So why is ELP on a 10 day TFR?” a Discord user wrote on February 11. The message was sent at 12:39 a.m. EST—hours before media reports on the temporary flight restriction (TFR) that briefly shut down the airspace around El Paso International Airport (KELP) hit the airwaves. When browsing your TikTok or X feed this month, you may have seen a few viral videos featuring a sleek, user-friendly interface that combines air traffic control (ATC) audio transcriptions with the ... read more
How Do You Track Altitude of Cloud Bases?
FLYING Magazine Question: I am a student pilot and have learned that the airport’s automated weather machine is prone to malfunctioning and unreliable, so we’ve been taught not to trust it. The winter is all low clouds, and sometimes the pattern is a little iffy. Is there an easy way to determine the base of the clouds beyond taking off and seeing if you have the room to fly the pattern? READ MORE: Tailwind Takeoffs: Why Your Instructor May Be Wrong About Them Answer: There is a basic ... read more
In the Cockpit, Are Two Heads Better Than One?
FLYING Magazine The scattered wreckage of the 1948 A-model Bonanza was identified by comparing photos, taken from a circling Cessna, with ones of the formerly pristine polished-aluminum airplane. It had fallen and slid more than a mile after flying, under control and at cruising speed, into the sheer cliff that formed one face of a 12,000-foot mountain. There it remained. The terrain was too hazardous to permit recovery of the wreckage. This Article First Appeared in FLYING ... read more
House safety bill follows NTSB report on DC accident
AOPA General Aviation News A bipartisan group of House lawmakers introduced a bill to implement several NTSB recommendations prompted by the investigation of the deadly midair collision between a military helicopter and regional jet in Washington, D.C., in January 2025 claimed 67 lives. Read More read more
Training and Safety Tip: ‘Decisions and revisions’
AOPA General Aviation News There’s an old saying that takeoffs are optional, but landings…well…not so much. Within the constraints of remaining fuel, choosing the time and place of landing is entirely up to you as pilot in command. Read More read more
Photos of the Week: Feb. 16-20, 2026
Plane + Pilot There’s no telling what you might see in Fredericksburg, Texas, at Gillespie County Airport (T82). From corporate jets to ScaleWings’ SW-51 Mustangs, there’s almost always something to view and do in Fredericksburg. But on this particular day it just so happened to be a formation flight of SW-51s buzzing past the Airport Diner and Hangar Hotel for the February Issue 967 of FLYING Magazine. Make sure to check out the issue for more information on these mini ... read more
West Texas Whirlwind
Plane + Pilot I dropped off my best friend, Brenna McGuinness, in the Far West Texas desert on Sunday, February 15, with one goal—learn to fly the right way. Having learned in an Aeronca 7AC Champ 10 years ago, I’ve always believed in learning to fly by feel and the old ways of stick and rudder. Simply put, I didn’t want McGuinness starting out any other way. Well, a few weeks ago the stars began to unexpectedly align while I was out on assignment for a Plane + Pilot feature story for our ... read more
Your Next Flight Plan: St. Augustine
Plane + Pilot Inside every pilot is a history buff. From the full adoption of aviation as a means of success on the battlefield in the first half of the 1900s, to the golden age of commercial flight that took off a short time after, the history of America would be incomplete without the contributions made possible through aviation. While the story behind a classic warbird will always reign supreme in a pilot’s eye, taking a step further back and enjoying the historic preservation in the ... read more
House Votes Down ROTOR Act
FLYING Magazine A high-profile bill intended to close some of the air safety gaps highlighted by a fatal collision over Washington, D.C., last year failed to pass the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday. The ROTOR Act did not garner the two-thirds majority needed to pass under a special fast-track procedure. The final vote was 264-133, according to The Hill. The vote marks a surprising reversal for a piece of bipartisan legislation that, up until recently, seemed set to become law. ... read more
Autonomous Air Force Fighter Drones Are Being Put to the Test
FLYING Magazine The U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program—which aims to procure about 1,000 autonomous aircraft to serve as “loyal wingmen” to crewed fighter jets—is reaching new heights in 2026. The two aircraft selected by the branch for testing and evaluation under the first CCA phase or “increment”—General Atomics’ (GA-ASI) YFQ-42A Dark Merlin and Anduril’s YFQ-44A Fury—both achieved new milestones this year after first taking flight in late 2025. Earlier in ... read more
Tecnam Unveils ‘MOSAIK59’ in New Era for Sport Pilots
FLYING Magazine Tecnam Aircraft has unveiled what it calls “MOSAIK59,” described as a new product family created specifically to take advantage of the new privileges granted under MOSAIC, the FAA’s Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification regulations. According to a Tecnam news release, MOSAIK59 represents a “dedicated product family engineered specifically to maximize the new privileges available to sport pilots and the wider aviation community.” MOSAIC rules redefine light ... read more
House safety bill follows NTSB report on DC accident
AOPA General Aviation News A bipartisan group of House lawmakers introduced a bill to implement several NTSB recommendations prompted by the investigation of the deadly midair collision between a military helicopter and regional jet in Washington, D.C., in January 2025 claimed 67 lives. Read More read more
Canada Certifies Gulfstream G500, G600
FLYING Magazine After years of delays and a diplomatic row involving President Donald Trump, Canadian regulators have certified Gulfstream’s G500 and G600 business jets. According to documents filed by Transport Canada, the aircraft were approved February 15. The Canadian government did not publicly announce the certifications, and it took several days for media outlets, including Reuters, to locate and report on them. In January, Trump threatened to unilaterally decertify all aircraft ... read more
This 2021 Cirrus SR22T G6 Is an All-Weather ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2021 Cirrus SR22T G6. Rarely does a single-engine piston combine ramp presence and raw capability as effectively as the Cirrus SR22T. As the flagship of the Cirrus line, the G6 represents the pinnacle of the ... read more
Training and Safety Tip: ‘Decisions and revisions’
AOPA General Aviation News There’s an old saying that takeoffs are optional, but landings…well…not so much. Within the constraints of remaining fuel, choosing the time and place of landing is entirely up to you as pilot in command. Read More read more
Customizing Flight Review Can Make a Huge Difference
FLYING Magazine I spent the past weekend at the Northwest Aviation Conference & Trade Show, which is held annually on the third weekend in February at the Washington State Fair Event Center in Puyallup. The conference is part trade show, part “family reunion,” and part educational smorgasbord. It’s the latter that I enjoy the most. Traditionally, the event has more than 70 hours of seminars covering everything from getting the most out of your aircraft’s avionics or engine, renewal ... read more
Legends that lift
AOPA General Aviation News The logbook of Ricardo Astillero II holds the signature of Tuskegee-era instructor Roscoe Draper—and a letter of recommendation from another aviation giant, Les Morris. Read More read more
At Eleventh Hour, Defense Department Raises Concerns About ROTOR Act
FLYING Magazine The U.S. Defense Department on Monday came out against the ROTOR Act, just hours before it was to be taken up by the House of Representatives. In a statement, defense officials expressed appreciation for the work of the bill’s backers, most notably Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell, but voiced misgivings about the potential impact on military helicopter operations. “Over the past months, the department worked closely with the Senate ... read more
Lawmakers Approve Bill Renaming Palm Beach Airport After Trump
FLYING Magazine It is increasingly likely that Palm Beach International Airport (KPBI) in Florida will be renamed after President Donald Trump. State lawmakers passed a bill on Thursday that would change the facility’s name to President Donald J. Trump International Airport. To take effect, the legislation must be signed into law by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and approved by the FAA. DeSantis’ office told the Associated Press on Friday that the governor had not yet received the bill but ... read more
Legends that lift
AOPA General Aviation News The logbook of Ricardo Astillero II holds the signature of Tuskegee-era instructor Roscoe Draper—and a letter of recommendation from another aviation giant, Les Morris. Read More read more
This 2020 CubCrafters NXCub Is a Backcountry-Designed ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2020 CubCrafters NXCub. The legendary Cub silhouette is often synonymous with the challenges of tailwheel flying, but the NXCub represents a revolutionary shift in the backcountry world. By moving the third wheel to ... read more
We Fly: ScaleWings SW-51 Is So Real, It’s Surreal
FLYING Magazine The shout in the headset was urgent, insistent: “Red Three, break right now! Bandits on your six.” Without thinking, the stick and rudder went hard right with back pressure loading some three Gs in a steep bank as the Mustang pivoted on its right wingtip. In seconds I’d completed a 180 and was scanning the sky for the bad guys. Nothing. I held the turn and tightened it, pulling over 4 Gs, breathing hard, looking, hyper alert, finger on the trigger on the stick, ready for ... read more
NASA Targets March 6 for Artemis II Moon Mission
FLYING Magazine After moving off an early February launch window for Artemis II—a four-person sojourn around the moon and back—NASA on Friday said it hopes to launch the mission on March 6. Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator for NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, said that a wet dress rehearsal (WDR) for Artemis II “went very, very smoothly”—smooth enough that it could launch within two weeks. Glaze said engineers are reviewing data from the WDR to make a ... read more
How to Avoid the Passive Loss Trap at Tax Time
FLYING Magazine BROUGHT TO YOU BY FLYING FINANCE If you own an aircraft and generate losses from it (through depreciation, loan interest, maintenance, hangar costs, and the dozen other expenses that come with ownership), you might assume those losses are working for you at tax time. For many experienced owners, they’re not. You fly to client meetings, manage the asset yourself, and take every deduction your accountant recommends. So why are your losses sitting in a box labeled ... read more
Autopilot Confusion, Impairment Cited in Fatal Crash of Aviation Vlogger
FLYING Magazine The National Transportation Safety Board has cited a loss of aircraft control possibly attributed to the misuse of the autopilot as causal factors in the crash of a Beechcraft Debonair that killed aviation vlogger Jenny Blalock and her father James in December 2023 near Pulaski, Tennessee. Blalock, 44, began her aviation training in 2021 and used video cameras in the cockpit to document her experiences on her YouTube channel, TNFlygirl. The NTSB report released Friday noted ... read more
Embraer, Northrop Team on Autonomous Air Force Tanker System
FLYING Magazine Embraer and Northrop Grumman are angling to be the go-to aerial refueling providers for the U.S. Air Force and its allies. The companies on Thursday said they made a joint investment to “evolve” Embraer’s twin-engine KC-390 Millennium into a multi-mission tanker, augmenting its probe-and-drogue refueling system with an autonomous flying boom. Most military aircraft are compatible with only one of the two methods, which require different hardware integrations. “We’re ... read more
Air Race Classic to Continue Century of Women in Flight
FLYING Magazine Attention all women pilots: If you are looking for a way to stretch and grow your aviation skills, perhaps you should take part in the 2026 Air Race Classic. Registration is now open for race teams consisting of at least two women pilots. In the past the team members have ranged in age from 17 to 95. To participate in the June 23-26 event, racers must hold at least a private pilot certificate and a current medical certificate or BasicMed and have a current flight review ... read more
Plane + Pilot Podcast: Shelly Lesikar deZevallos
Plane + Pilot In the latest episode of thePlane + Pilot Podcast, host Cayla McLeod sits down with Shelly Lesikar deZevallos, a third-generation aviator and a dedicated advocate for the general aviation community. A fifth-generation Texan, deZevallos shares her journey from learning to fly at age 14 to managing one of the busiest privately owned, public-use airports in Texas. DeZevallos’s career has been defined by the intersection of the cockpit and the state Capitol. With experience as a ... read more
Best of the West
Plane + Pilot Some people fly to the backcountry for solitude. You set up your tent, walk in the forest, listen to the birds, enjoy a campfire, and marvel at the Milky Way. Other pilots use backcountry airstrips as trailheads from which to begin hunting or fishing trips. But for many, backcountry flying is a chance to connect with other pilots, and for those folks, the fly-in calendar determines much of their schedule. It’s a bit early to get exact dates for most of these events, but they ... read more
Photos of the Week: Feb. 9-13, 2026
Plane + Pilot Tucked away at the rather unassuming Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport (KSLR) is one of Texas’ few general aviation aircraft manufacturers. Driven by a deep respect for family, community, and innovation, the American Legend Aircraft Co. team has been challenging the status quo of Cub-style manufacturing for over 20 years. Its journey began shortly after the company’s founding with the launch of the AL3—a modern, refined tribute to the Piper J-3 Cub—and has since evolved to ... read more
To the Printer We Go
Plane + Pilot Every other month, I face the daunting yet exciting task of assembling a first-in-class general aviation magazine. While I pinch myself daily for the opportunity to lead this venture, the role has undoubtedly given me more gray hairs than the average 26-year-old should possess. From weather nightmares postponing cross-country photo shoots to balancing budgets and managing contributors on razor-thin deadlines, the stress of high-quality publishing is always constant. Yet, no ... read more
Your Next Flight Plan: Greater Phoenix
Plane + Pilot Phoenix, also known as the “Valley of the Sun,” is the famous Arizona city for its mountainous, desert terrain and year-round summer climate, making it a premier destination for outdoor activities such as hiking and golf. That’s particularly true during the winter months when much of the East Coast is either covered in snow or facing damp, chilly temperatures. Luckily for pilots, those same sunny conditions make just about all of Arizona perhaps the most advantageous state ... read more
Plane + Pilot Podcast: Bill McGlynn
Plane + Pilot In this episode of the Plane + Pilot Podcast, editor-in-chief Cayla McLeod sits down with Bill McGlynn, president of the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF), to discuss the draw of the backcountry and the vital work being done to keep open remote airstrips. McGlynn has been an aviator since 1995, but his true passion for flight was cemented when he first landed on a grass strip in the Idaho mountains. The RAF represents approximately 14,000 supporters and over 5,000 ... read more
Meet Aaron Foster
Plane + Pilot Humble beginnings for CFII Aaron Foster have turned into a tried-and-true, go-to reputation for Foster Aviation, a flight school specializing in backcountry and tailwheel instruction at the Missoula Montana Airport (KMSO) in the western part of the state. “I always wanted to be a pilot, but there are two limiting factors,” said Foster, 52. “I think everybody can agree on time and money. If you have more of one, you have less of the other.” The only pilot Foster knew, his ... read more
U.K.’s Vertical Unveils 2nd U.S. Air Taxi Network in Florida
FLYING Magazine The U.K.’s leading developer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft—which earlier this year unveiled a planned New York City air taxi network—this week revealed it is targeting a second U.S. network on the west coast of South Florida. Vertical Aerospace on Wednesday said it is working with partners to bring its electric and hybrid-electric aircraft to Miami, Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and other residential, business, and event hubs in the area. The ... read more
This 1982 Beechcraft B36TC Bonanza Is a Specialized, High-Flying ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1982 Beechcraft B36TC Bonanza. Acquiring a Beechcraft Bonanza is the ultimate goal for many private pilots, largely because the aircraft is renowned for its well-balanced combination of speed, comfort, handling, and ... read more
Why Airplane Reliability Matters More Than You Think
FLYING Magazine As we descended through the dingy, gray cumulus, a glance at the standby attitude indicator revealed a familiar problem. The instrument was beginning to show a pronounced bank despite the wings-level status displayed on the Aspen electronic PFD. Cringing, I forced myself to look at the far-right side of the instrument panel. Yup, the suction gauge needle indicated almost zero, occasionally jumping to the right in an attempt to display momentary signs of life. We were losing ... read more
Aircraft market steady in 2025
AOPA General Aviation News The General Aviation Manufacturers Association report on 2025 factory deliveries highlighted steady overall numbers , strong jet growth, and workforce needs. Read More read more
Ron Timmermans dies after catastrophic engine failure
AOPA General Aviation News Longtime aviation educator and safety advocate Ron Timmermans and his wife, Barbara, died on February 11 when their 1994 Beechcraft A36 Bonanza crashed while attempting an emergency landing in Brownsboro, Texas. Read More read more
Alaska weather charts upgraded
AOPA General Aviation News The National Weather Service’s Alaska Aviation Weather Unit is making some significant changes to its Surface and Significant Weather charts. Read More read more
NTSB chair voices support for PAPA
AOPA General Aviation News NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy voiced support for the Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act (PAPA) in an exchange with Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) during a February 12 Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing on aviation safety and the midair collision between a military helicopter and regional jet in January 2025 that killed 67 people. Read More read more
‘Incompatible’ land use continues in Colorado town
AOPA General Aviation News Ground was broken on a 200-apartment complex less than half a mile from the end of Runway 29 at Vance Brand Airport in Longmont, Colorado, despite the developer never filing appropriate paperwork with the FAA. Read More read more
Finding a smooth ride
AOPA General Aviation News The FAA’s Aviation Weather Demonstration and Evaluation Services wants to know how you determine whether there’s turbulence along your route of flight and which features are most valuable to you when making that determination. Read More read more
Landfill expansion threatens Utah airport
AOPA General Aviation News In a Utah town, garbage turned to gold years after the local public-use airport grew from a few hangars around a grass strip into a modern facility with a 5,200-foot runway, and the airport community is now feeling the pressure of a push to expand landfill capacity. Read More read more
Airline Workers: Pass ROTOR Act and ‘Prevent Future Tragedies’
FLYING Magazine A coalition of labor groups collectively representing hundreds of thousands of airline workers is urging the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act, which it argues could prevent a repeat of the fatal January 2025 midair collision over the Potomac River. Six groups—including the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), which represented pilots and flight ... read more
DOT Upgrades ATC Tech at Washington National
FLYING Magazine Air traffic controllers (ATCs) overseeing Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) have made the jump from paper to electronic flight strips, an upgrade the Department of Transportation said will increase safety and efficiency. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the transition in a video posted to X on Thursday. READ MORE: DOT’s Brand New ATC System Has a Prime Integrator “This is what air traffic controllers used to pass an airplane off from one ... read more
Landfill expansion threatens Utah airport
AOPA General Aviation News In a Utah town, garbage turned to gold years after the local public-use airport grew from a few hangars around a grass strip into a modern facility with a 5,200-foot runway, and the airport community is now feeling the pressure of a push to expand landfill capacity. Read More read more
Alaska weather charts upgraded
AOPA General Aviation News The National Weather Service’s Alaska Aviation Weather Unit is making some significant changes to its Surface and Significant Weather charts. Read More read more
NTSB chair voices support for PAPA
AOPA General Aviation News NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy voiced support for the Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act (PAPA) in an exchange with Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) during a February 12 Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing on aviation safety and the midair collision between a military helicopter and regional jet in January 2025 that killed 67 people. Read More read more
‘Incompatible’ land use continues in Colorado town
AOPA General Aviation News Ground was broken on a 200-apartment complex less than half a mile from the end of Runway 29 at Vance Brand Airport in Longmont, Colorado, despite the developer never filing appropriate paperwork with the FAA. Read More read more
Finding a smooth ride
AOPA General Aviation News The FAA’s Aviation Weather Demonstration and Evaluation Services wants to know how you determine whether there’s turbulence along your route of flight and which features are most valuable to you when making that determination. Read More read more
Ron Timmermans dies after catastrophic engine failure
AOPA General Aviation News Longtime aviation educator and safety advocate Ron Timmermans and his wife, Barbara, died on February 11 when their 1994 Beechcraft A36 Bonanza crashed while attempting an emergency landing in Brownsboro, Texas. Read More read more
This 2002 Cessna 560 Citation Encore Is a Versatile ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2002 Cessna 560 Citation Encore. In the world of light business jets, the Citation Encore is frequently described as the definitive sweet spot of Cessna’s 560 series. It represents a master class in evolution, taking ... read more
Aircraft market steady in 2025
AOPA General Aviation News The General Aviation Manufacturers Association report on 2025 factory deliveries highlighted steady overall numbers , strong jet growth, and workforce needs. Read More read more
NGPA Industry Expo Draws Thousands to California
FLYING Magazine What began as a small gathering on the back patio of a bed-and-breakfast in Provincetown, Massachusetts, has grown into one the largest aviation networking and pilot recruiting events in the U.S. For the past 12 years, the National Gay Pilots Association (NGPA) has hosted its Industry Expo, a place where aviators and aspiring professionals can connect with everything from major airlines to businesses that support the aviation community. NGPA is celebrating its 35th ... read more
2026 Cirrus SR22 Buyers Guide
FLYING Magazine BROUGHT TO YOU BY FLYING FINANCE The Cirrus SR22 G7+ represents the pinnacle of single-engine piston aircraft technology in 2026, featuring Safe Return Emergency Autoland as standard equipment—the first FAA-certified piston aircraft with this capability. This comprehensive buyer’s guide examines the SR22’s evolution from G3 through G7+ generations, analyzes 2023-26 National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) accident data revealing pilot decision making as the predominant ... read more
Report: U.S. VIP Aircraft Will Get Trump’s Preferred Livery
FLYING Magazine There is a plan in place to repaint many and perhaps all U.S. government VIP aircraft, including Air Force One, with a new livery picked out by President Donald Trump. Sources cited by CBS News said the design—white and dark blue, with red-and-gold stripes—will be used on the Qatari jet gifted to Trump last year, the Boeing VC-25Bs set to serve as the next official Air Force One, and a host of other aircraft used by high-ranking government officials. Some airplanes are ... read more
Restored to perfection
AOPA General Aviation News It may not look like it, but the AOPA Sweepstakes Aviat Husky is nearly ready to fly again. And when it does, it will have been repaired with all new parts so that it will effectively have no damage history—your prize Husky will be in “as new” condition. Read More read more
Restored to perfection
AOPA General Aviation News It may not look like it, but the AOPA Sweepstakes Aviat Husky is nearly ready to fly again. And when it does, it will have been repaired with all new parts so that it will effectively have no damage history—your prize Husky will be in “as new” condition. Read More read more
NTSB Issues Recommendations After Fatal D.C. Collision
FLYING Magazine The installation and use of ADS-B In aboard aircraft in addition to the use of ADS-B Out tops the list of recommendations made by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in its final report on the midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) in January 2025. The use of ADS-B Out and ADS-B In can give pilots better situational awareness as they can “see” where other traffic is, provided that traffic is also using ADS-B Out and In. The ... read more
This 1961 Piper PA-22 Colt Is a Time-Building ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1961 Piper PA-22 Colt. In a market often dominated by high-speed cross-country cruisers and six-figure price tags, occasionally there’s a gem that reminds pilots why they started flying in the first place. This 1961 ... read more
Tailwind Takeoffs: Why Your Instructor May Be Wrong About Them
FLYING Magazine Question: I am a student pilot and I moved out of state so I had to change instructors. I swear my old instructor taught me to take off with a tailwind following the pointy end of the windsock. My new instructor says that’s backward. As I understand it you have to reach a certain airspeed before you can take off. Wouldn’t having a tailwind assist that? What are you supposed to do when the windsock indicates dead calm? Answer: I think something got lost in translation ... read more
Recalling the 80-Year History of the Airmen Club
FLYING Magazine My introduction to the Greater Cincinnati Airmen Club was when I signed on for an air race it sponsored in 1964 or so. My sister Mary and I were flying the Ercoupe we’d bought, much to the relief of the archbishop whose two priests had loaned their secret airplane to us. As in all original Ercoupes, N341 had two wing tanks that fed into a header tank in the nose. Fuel was selected either on or off, the quantity indicated by a wire with a cork floating in that header tank in ... read more
Air Force Two Spotted With New Presidential Livery
FLYING Magazine A U.S. Air Force Boeing C-32A—sometimes used as Air Force Two—was recently spotted in a new livery similar to the one President Donald Trump has picked out for the VC-25Bs that will eventually serve as the new Air Force One. Instagram user @tt_33_operator posted a picture of the jet flying from Majors Airport (KGVT) in Greenville, Texas. It sports a white-and-dark-blue design with red-and-gold lines and a waving U.S. flag on the side of its tail. The photo was first ... read more
Training and Safety Tip: Snow room for error
AOPA General Aviation News The winter months pose a unique set of challenges for pilots flying in regions where snow and ice are common. Read More read more
FAA Orders Merit-Based Hiring at Airlines
FLYING Magazine In what it framed as a reversal of Biden-era policies, the FAA on Friday said it will require commercial airlines to commit to “merit-based hiring” for pilots. The directive comes in the form of an “operations specification.” To comply, Part 121 carriers must certify that their hiring process for pilots is exclusively based on merit, as demonstrated by experience, technical aptitude, and other factors. The operations specification takes effect 30 days from February ... read more
This 1993 American Champion 8KCAB Super Decathlon Is a Factory-Refreshed ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1993 American Champion 8KCAB Super Decathlon. For many, the allure of flight is found not in straight-and-level travel but in the freedom of three-dimensional maneuverability. The Super Decathlon has long been the ... read more
Training and Safety Tip: Snow room for error
AOPA General Aviation News The winter months pose a unique set of challenges for pilots flying in regions where snow and ice are common. Read More read more
Three Tries to Land: Lessons in the Art of the Go-Around
FLYING Magazine I had a pretty good idea what the day was going to be like when we were No. 3 for takeoff at the nontowered airport and it wasn’t quite 10:20 a.m. on a Sunday. The sky over the airport was clear—to the east was a layer of clouds, and to the south a layer of fog. That bright yellow thing that infrequently appears in the sky over Seattle in the winter was in the sky, and like it always does, brought out the pilots in droves. The learner was an instrument candidate. The ... read more
Congress Wants FAA to Speed Up Electric Air Taxi Certification
FLYING Magazine A bipartisan bill introduced Friday in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives would require the FAA to “streamline” its type certification process for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis and other advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft. That could include the use of standards agreed upon by the developers themselves to prove the aircraft are fit to carry passengers. Introduced in the Senate by Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ben Ray ... read more
Master CFI and Wife Killed in East Texas Plane Crash
FLYING Magazine The aviation education community is mourning the deaths of nationally known CFI Ron Timmermans and his wife, Barbara, who were killed in an aircraft accident on February 11. According to the FAA, the Timmermans were flying over East Texas in their Beechcraft A36 when they declared an emergency shortly before 5:20 p.m. CST, reporting oil suddenly covering the wind screen. During the emergency landing the aircraft struck power lines and hit the ground in a nose-down attitude ... read more
Report: U.S. Military Planning for Lengthy Operations Against Iran
FLYING Magazine The U.S. military is preparing for potentially weekslong operations against Iran if President Donald Trump gives the order to attack, Reuters reported. Citing two U.S. officials with knowledge of the matter, the news outlet said the military’s planning could include airstrikes against Iranian state and security facilities, not just nuclear sites, which America has targeted before, notably in Operation Midnight Hammer last year. It was not immediately clear which aircraft, ... read more
Ariane 64, Europe’s Largest Rocket, Debuts With Amazon Satellite Launch
FLYING Magazine Europe’s largest and most powerful rocket ever made its maiden flight earlier this month, delivering 32 satellites to low-Earth orbit (LEO) for customer Amazon Leo—the e-commerce and logistics titan’s budding satellite constellation, billed as a rival to SpaceX’s rapidly expanding Starlink network. Launched Thursday, the mission was the debut of Arianespace’s Ariane 64, which stands about 20 storeys tall and doubles the payload of the company’s Ariane 62 variant. Both are ... read more
This 1978 Cessna 152 Is an Economical, Efficient ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1978 Cessna 152. There is a special place in my heart for the Cessna 152, largely because it was the airplane in which I began flight training right after college graduation in 1988. Back then you could take off from ... read more
All in the Family: At the Heart of the Heritage Flight Museum
FLYING Magazine These days it is getting harder to find a family-owned FBO at airports. It’s even more difficult to locate a family-run aviation museum unless you head to Skagit Regional Airport (KBVS) in Burlington, Washington, home of the Heritage Flight Museum. The museum was founded in 1996 by astronaut and retired Air Force Major General William “Bill” Anders and his wife, Valerie. Bill Anders is perhaps best remembered as the Lunar Module pilot for Apollo 8, who, with astronauts ... read more
FAA Greenlights New SpaceX Starship Trajectories Over U.S. Mainland
FLYING Magazine SpaceX this week moved one step closer to securing a launch license modification that would allow it to fly its gargantuan Starship rocket over portions of the mainland U.S., including Florida, Texas, and California. The company will still need to obtain that modification from the FAA. But the regulator on Friday issued a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for SpaceX’s proposal to add new Starship launch trajectories to its Starbase pad in Texas. The proposed ... read more
Amazon Drone Delivery Will Soon Land in Chicago Suburbs
FLYING Magazine Amazon’s Prime Air drone delivery service will soon expand to its largest market yet. First reported by Crain’s Chicago Business, the logistics titan is planning to serve customers out of two fulfillment centers in the south Chicago suburbs of Markham and Matteson. Each site will have 12 to 20 drones. The company hopes to launch near the Windy City by late spring or early summer. Per Crain’s, residents of nearby Tinley Park, Midlothian, Homewood, Flossmoor, Dolton, Blue ... read more
Second U.S. Aircraft Carrier Heading to Middle East
FLYING Magazine The U.S. plans to move the world’s largest aircraft carrier from the Caribbean to the Middle East as tensions with Iran escalate. A person familiar with the plan told the Associated Press that the USS Gerald R. Ford will join the USS Abraham Lincoln in patrolling the waters south of Iran. The Abraham Lincoln was moved from the South China Sea to the Arabian Sea in January as Iranian security forces moved to crush anti-government protests in major cities there. The Gerald R. ... read more
This 2009 Cessna 400 Corvalis Is an Efficient, Composite
FLYING Magazine Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 2009 Cessna 400 Corvalis. Lancair, the longtime developer and manufacturer of high-performance composite, kitbuilt experimental aircraft, rolled out the Columbia 350 and 400 models as part of an effort to bring the ... read more
Inside the U.S. Airpower Reserve
FLYING Magazine From the moment you cross into the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Tucson’s Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, the desert looks like it’s been overrun by aluminum. Aircraft stretch to every horizon—jets, transporters, helicopters, shapes both familiar and forgotten—lined with geometric precision in the sun-bleached earth. It feels, at first glance, like an enormous scrapyard. But that perception evaporates as soon as you meet the people who run the massive ... read more
Boeing Retires Final 787-8 Testbed After Nearly 16 Years
FLYING Magazine Boeing’s last Boeing 787-8 flight test airplane, designated ZA004 (originally registered N7874), completed its final mission Wednesday, marking the end of nearly 16 years in service supporting the Dreamliner program. ZA004 departed Boeing Field (KBFI) in Seattle on its final test flight before being flown to Pinal Airpark (KMZJ) in Marana, Arizona, where it will enter long-term storage and support training, research, parts reclamation, and other development activities. The ... read more
Report: Anti-Drone Laser Test Prompted El Paso Airspace Closure
FLYING Magazine A new possible explanation for the brief shutdown of the airspace in El Paso, Texas, surfaced late Wednesday—confusion over the testing of an anti-drone laser at the U.S.-Mexico border. Sources cited by CBS News said the Defense Department has been experimenting with a high-powered laser at Fort Bliss, which abuts El Paso International Airport (KELP). The technology was used by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) earlier this week to target a suspected drone, which turned ... read more
Arizona legislation would limit ADS-B misuse
AOPA General Aviation News A bill authored by local pilot CJ deVries and introduced by state Rep. Matt Gress (R-District 4) would prohibit the state, its political subdivisions, or private entities from using information transmitted through an aircraft collision avoidance safety system known as ADS-B to collect airport fees from aircraft owners or operators. Read More read more
Added awareness where pilots need it most
AOPA General Aviation News Misjudging height above the surface is one of the most unforgiving errors in general aviation, and Garmin's GHA 15 height advisor brings certified radar-based height-above-ground awareness to a broad range of GA aircraft. Read More read more
Arizona legislation would limit ADS-B misuse
AOPA General Aviation News A bill authored by local pilot CJ deVries and introduced by state Rep. Matt Gress (R-District 4) would prohibit the state, its political subdivisions, or private entities from using information transmitted through an aircraft collision avoidance safety system known as ADS-B to collect airport fees from aircraft owners or operators. Read More read more
Added awareness where pilots need it most
AOPA General Aviation News Misjudging height above the surface is one of the most unforgiving errors in general aviation, and Garmin's GHA 15 height advisor brings certified radar-based height-above-ground awareness to a broad range of GA aircraft. Read More read more
This 1968 Cessna 150H Is a Garmin-Equipped ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1968 Cessna 150H. Many pilots ultimately dream of high-performance twins or pressurized cabins, but the Cessna 150 remains the foundational stone of general aviation. As the quintessential trainer for generations of ... read more
How debriefs build better pilots
AOPA General Aviation News The engine shuts down, the postflight is done. The instructor and student walk back into the building to grab a coffee, talk briefly, and go on to the next flight or home. Or maybe, just chat on the walk back inside, and call it a day. Read More read more
Jessica Cox has a new mission
AOPA General Aviation News Jessica Cox is building the Impossible Airplane and designing a future for others. She's challenging an industry shaped by limits—and doing it all with her feet. Read More read more
DHS Orders Drone-Catching Nets for 2026 World Cup
FLYING Magazine The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has placed a “multimillion-dollar” order for drone-catching nets that will be stationed at U.S. venues scheduled to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup in June and July. Utah-based Fortem Technologies, the recipient of the DHS order, estimated that more than 1 million spectators will visit the U.S. for the global spectacle, making it “one of the most complex security undertakings” for a sporting event. The company—which ... read more
FAA Chief Expects Canada to Certify Long-Delayed Gulfstream Jets
FLYING Magazine Regulators in Canada are close to completing their certification of some long-delayed Gulfstream business jets, the head of the FAA said Tuesday. “I think we’ve resolved the issues with Canada,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford told reporters in Washington, D.C., according to Reuters. “My understanding is Transport Canada will announce the Gulfstream certifications that have been delayed for years.” Bedford said he expects a certification announcement from Canada later this ... read more
Vista Orders 40 Challenger 3500s
FLYING Magazine Private aviation group Vista, the parent company of VistaJet, is expanding its fleet. The company said Wednesday that it has ordered 40 Challenger 3500 business jets from Bombardier, with options for up to 120 additional aircraft. The purchase will expand capacity for Vista’s membership after another year of “double-digit” growth in its subscription-based program product, officials said. Deliveries will begin “immediately” this year and continue for up to 10 years to align ... read more
How debriefs build better pilots
AOPA General Aviation News The engine shuts down, the postflight is done. The instructor and student walk back into the building to grab a coffee, talk briefly, and go on to the next flight or home. Or maybe, just chat on the walk back inside, and call it a day. Read More read more
Jessica Cox has a new mission
AOPA General Aviation News Jessica Cox is building the Impossible Airplane and designing a future for others. She's challenging an industry shaped by limits—and doing it all with her feet. Read More read more
1984 Piper PA-31P-350 Mojave Is a Cabin-Class ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1984 Piper PA-31P-350 Mojave. For pilots looking to graduate from light twins or seeking a step up into pressurized flight, this 1984 Piper Mojave presents a rare and compelling opportunity. Produced in limited ... read more
Report: FAA Shut Down El Paso Airspace for Military C-UAS Testing
FLYING Magazine The FAA on Wednesday morning abruptly lifted a temporary flight restriction (TFR) for airspace in El Paso, Texas, which officials said came as a surprise to local government officials, airport leadership, and air traffic controllers (ATCs), including those at the Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Center. “There is no threat to commercial aviation,” the agency said in a statement. “All flights will resume as normal.” The New York Times on Wednesday reported that the ... read more
Does a Low Flying Complaint Automatically Equal an FAA Violation?
FLYING Magazine Question: Does the FAA have a definition of what constitutes “careless or reckless operation?” In ground school we learned about a student pilot who was accused of [that] by someone who lives near the airport because he allegedly flew too low when he was coming in for a landing. Answer: From your description this sounds like someone who doesn’t like airplanes more than a legitimate safety concern. However, the FAA is required to investigate all complaints. READ MORE: How ... read more
Chart Wise: Paine Field ILS Y or LOC Y Rwy 16R
FLYING Magazine Tucked under the north side of Seattle’s very busy Class B airspace is Seattle Paine Field International (KPAE) in Everett, Washington. The airport is home to the Boeing factory, the largest building on earth by volume, airline operations, and a robust general aviation contingent. This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine If you're not already a subscriber, what are you waiting for? Subscribe today to get the issue as soon as it is released in either Print ... read more
Master weather hazards, forecasts
AOPA General Aviation News Presented by Sporty's and SiriusXM Aviation, the Weather Hazards and Forecasts Course for AOPA members turns complex weather concepts into practical tools for smarter preflight decisions. Read More read more
Buckeye is beckoning
AOPA General Aviation News It's a signal that spring is around the corner: The AOPA Fly-In at the Buckeye Air Fair in Arizona will return to the long-running event for the fourth time February 13 through 15. Read More read more
Garmin Opens Mesa Gateway Location
FLYING Magazine Garmin, a name synonymous with avionics, navigation and communication tools for pilots, is opening a new facility at Mesa Gateway Airport (KIWA) in Arizona. It property of two adjacent hangars providing approximately 75,000 square feet. Company officials said the space will be utilized for aircraft certification and flight testing by about 75 employees. Garmin’s decision to open a shop in Mesa was based in part on the region’s favorable weather. Conditions are conducive to ... read more
Reclaiming Currency and Relearning Discipline
Plane + Pilot Well, I found myself in two new situations I don’t care to repeat this week. Let’s start with the first: It was a lapse in proficiency and currency I’ve spent a decade building. For the first time since my first tailwheel flight in July 2015, I realized I had gone six months without being the sole manipulator of a tailwheel aircraft. From soloing in an Aeronca Champ at 17 to being checked out in a WACO UPF-7 last year, I have always taken great pride in having almost an ... read more
Your Next Flight Plan: Central Florida Gulf Coast
Plane + Pilot Florida, again? Yes, Florida again. For the third week in a row the Plane + Pilot flight plan takes a look at the Sunshine State. While that might seem a bit excessive, because Florida boasts arguably the most rich and consequential moments in aviation history, it deserves more than a quick flyby. However, while the previous two weeks examined the Atlantic Coast, full of its premier tourist destinations and aerospace activities, this week dives into the central Florida Gulf ... read more
Hangar 180
Plane + Pilot Located in Lewiston, Idaho, on the Idaho-Washington border, lies more than a dream destination for pilots and aviation enthusiasts. Hangar 180 founder Gary Peters and a skilled team of devoted pilots, mechanics, and volunteers (including his daughter, Tyler) have created an airplane’s dream home. Hangar 180 boasts 12 aircraft ranging from a historic North American P-51 Mustang and 1929 Travel Air 6000 to brand-new CubCrafters Carbon Cubs. These legendary airplanes spend ... read more
Plane + Pilot Podcast: Mike Sasser
Plane + Pilot In the latest episode of the Plane + Pilot Podcast, host Cayla McLeod visits the Hank Sasser Airport at Breakaway (40XS) just north of Austin, Texas, in Cedar Park for a master class in general aviation brokerage, aircraft mission matching, and more with Boomerang Air owner and founder Mike Sasser. Fresh off a diverse afternoon of flying, Sasser reflects on a journey that began with a formative Cessna 182 flight at age 13 and led to a private pilot certificate at just 20 with ... read more
Photos of the Week: Feb. 2-6, 2026
Plane + Pilot There’s something special about flying to breakfast. But there’s something truly extraordinary about camping under your airplane’s wing, then waking up to a feast of bacon, eggs, and huckleberry pancakes. At the Big Creek Lodge in Idaho, that’s exactly what awaits. Big Creek (U60) airstrip features a 3,550-foot runway owned by the U.S. Forest Service and is managed by the Idaho Transportation Department’s Division of Aeronautics. Tucked right next to it is the lodge, operated ... read more
Oh, the Places You’ll Go…and the People You’ll Meet
Plane + Pilot We have a tremendous freedom as pilots to recreate and travel in ways that many simply can’t comprehend. The ability to hop in a general aviation airplane on a moment’s notice and be in an entirely different world in a matter of hours is a privilege where I find myself routinely in awe. As I sit here writing this, overlooking the Mexican border and the beautiful Rio Grande near Presidio, Texas, I am struck by how this trip would have been nearly impossible without aviation. ... read more
Your Next Flight Plan: New Hampshire’s Lakes Region
Plane + Pilot For many pilots, ice on the runway is a phrase that triggers an immediate 180-degree turn and a call to ATC for a diversion. But in the heart of New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, ice isn’t the enemy—it’s the primary destination. Winter can be a great excuse to put the airplane to bed and wait for clearer skies and warmer weather. However, sometimes calling it quits for a season just simply won’t do. Thankfully, the Lakes Region of New Hampshire provides many reasons to keep ... read more
Buckeye is beckoning
AOPA General Aviation News It's a signal that spring is around the corner: The AOPA Fly-In at the Buckeye Air Fair in Arizona will return to the long-running event for the fourth time February 13 through 15. Read More read more
How Drones Are Reshaping the Olympic Viewing Experience
FLYING Magazine According to Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), the 2026 Winter Games in Milano Cortina are ushering in a “new chapter in Olympic broadcasting”—one that includes first-person view (FPV) drones capable of providing “unprecedented immersion into the athletes’ experience.” If you tuned into events such as alpine skiing, snowboarding, or speed skating during the first few days of the 2026 Games in Italy, you may have seen—or heard—the FPV drones. Milano Cortina marks the ... read more
Master weather hazards, forecasts
AOPA General Aviation News Presented by Sporty's and SiriusXM Aviation, the Weather Hazards and Forecasts Course for AOPA members turns complex weather concepts into practical tools for smarter preflight decisions. Read More read more
Embry-Riddle Research Funds Honor Pilot Killed in D.C. Midair Collision
FLYING Magazine Two new aviation research funds have been set up at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University in honor of alumnus Jonathan Campos, a PSA Airlines pilot who was killed in last year’s midair collision over Washington, D.C. The Jonathan Campos Aviation Safety Endowment and the Jonathan Campos Aviation Safety Program Support fund will help advance safety research at Embry‑Riddle’s Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety, according to university officials. The endowment was ... read more
This 1960 Cessna 310D Is a Reimagined ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick
FLYING Magazine Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily. Today’s Top Pick is a 1960 Cessna 310D. The Cessna 310 is one of the most recognizable silhouettes in general aviation history. Debuting in the mid-1950s, it brought a sleek, automotive-inspired design to the ramp, most notably with its ... read more
Garmin Opens New Facility in Arizona
FLYING Magazine Garmin said Tuesday that it has acquired a hangar and office complex at Mesa Gateway Airport (KIWA) in Arizona to support its aircraft certification and flight test operations. The facility consists of two adjacent hangars totaling about 75,000 square feet and includes office space for approximately 75 employees. The airport’s three parallel runways, including two longer than 10,000 feet, and year-round weather conditions will support flight operations. “We are excited to ... read more
Why Continuous Learning Is Crucial for Today’s Pilots
FLYING Magazine One of my clients uses his airplane for business travel. He earned his private pilot certificate a few years ago in a Cessna 172 then bought a single-engine Piper piston. When he lands at an airport with a flight school, he seeks out the chance to fly a new-to-him model of aircraft for the experience. It’s his way of keeping his learning skills sharp. This activity has put him in a variety of Cessna singles such as the Skycatcher and a C-152, along with Cirruses, Diamonds, ... read more
Natilus Unveils Dual-Deck, Blended-Wing Aircraft Concept
FLYING Magazine A leading U.S. developer of blended-wing body (BWB) aircraft that it bills as a replacement for single-aisle narrowbodies—such as the Boeing 737 Max 8 and 10 and Airbus A321neo—has announced a new, larger flagship concept for up to 250 passengers. Natilus CEO and co-founder Aleksey Matyushev told FLYING that the company’s Horizon Evo, unveiled Tuesday, is an “evolution” rather than a replacement of its original Horizon design “that we feel is more practical and more market ... read more
Bellanca Factory Re-location Update
Bellanca Aircraft, Inc. The new Bellanca Aircraft factory and maintenance facility in Sulphur, Oklahoma is operational with some limitations on services. Aircraft owners can now schedule maintenance services, including annual inspections, repairs and preventive maintenance work. Prospective aircraft buyers can arrange for prebuy inspections as well. The facility at the Sulphur airport (F30) is divided between the aircraft maintenance hangar and the company’s warehouse, manufacturing ... read more
Re-location of Vital Inventory – Parts Availability Status
Selected inventory, critical to the maintenance of the fleet, has been relocated to the new factory in Sulphur, Oklahoma. Throughout the process of moving the entire factory from Minnesota to the new facility the company will strive to keep the supply of parts moving to our customers. Owners and repair facilities my contact the factory at 580-202-3100 to place parts orders. read more
Bellanca Aircraft Begins Factory Re-location
The relocation of over seventy years of equipment, tooling, engineering documentation, inventory and office equipment has begun. These assets are being moved to the company’s new home in Sulphur, Oklahoma. Bellanca Aircraft, Inc. company President, Mike Redpath is personally overseeing the move which will happen in phases over the next several months. read more
Bellanca Aircraft, Inc. Acquires Alexandria Aircraft, LLC
The entire assets of Alexandria Aircraft, LLC of Alexandria, Minnesota have been acquired by a small group of investors who plan to continue operations in Sulphur, Oklahoma, a location more centrally located to a large percentage of the Viking and Cruisemaster aircraft. read more