Today's Aerospace Pulse
Blue Origin’s New Glenn suffers catastrophic engine failure during static fire
A BE‑4 methane/LOX engine on Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket failed four seconds after ignition, causing a catastrophic explosion that destroyed the first‑stage booster and damaged Launch Complex 36A. No personnel were injured. An FAA‑led investigation, supported by the U.S. Space Force, is under way.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Disciplined Growth Acquisition Corp raises $150M in IPO
The State of Alternative Propulsion Aircraft? Part 7.
The article revisits alternative‑propulsion aircraft, contrasting serial and parallel hybrid concepts. It argues that serial hybrids increase both production and operating costs without delivering meaningful efficiency gains. By highlighting that aircraft lack the regenerative‑braking cycles that make automotive hybrids valuable, the piece questions the relevance of that technology in aviation. Using the Aircraft Performance and Cost Model (APCM), the author evaluates Pratt & Whitney’s parallel‑hybrid DH8‑100 prototype to see if it can avoid the drawbacks of serial designs.
Magazine Breadth — Not Just Depth — Is Key to Munitions Industrial Base Resilience
The United States faces renewed munitions shortfalls after intensive use in Iran, Ukraine and other theaters, prompting officials to stress that stockpile depth alone will not ensure resilience. Recent Pentagon initiatives, including the 2025 Munitions Acceleration Council and $25 billion FY‑2026...
Why Don’t Many US Airlines Offer Premium Economy On Every Aircraft?
U.S. airlines largely skip premium‑economy on domestic flights because the class is tied to wide‑body, long‑haul aircraft and retrofitting costs run into millions. Instead they sell upgraded‑economy products like Comfort+, Economy Plus, and Main Cabin Extra that add legroom with minimal...
Aerowash Selected by IAG to Supply Aircraft Washing Robots to British Airways at Heathrow
Aerowash has been awarded a multi‑year leasing contract by International Airlines Group to provide aircraft‑washing robots for British Airways at London Heathrow. The deal follows a competitive tender and will see several automated washers deployed across BA’s Heathrow operations. CEO...
Embention Integrates Veronte Autopilot with Gotonomi SATCOM for Enhanced BVLOS Operations
Embention has integrated its Veronte Autopilot 1x with Gotonomi SATCOM terminals, creating a plug‑and‑play BVLOS solution that leverages Viasat’s L‑Band satellite network. The new hardware version 4.12 adds a native Ethernet port, removing RS485‑to‑Ethernet converters and reducing UAV weight. VeronteLink...
Air New Zealand to Cancel Over One Thousand Flights, Rebook Passengers Amid Soaring Fuel Costs, Disrupted Energy Supply Routes, and...
Air New Zealand will cancel over 1,100 flights by early May 2026, affecting roughly 40,000 passengers, as soaring jet‑fuel prices strain its finances. The price surge stems from geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, which have disrupted global oil supply...
Joby’s Electric Air Taxis Usher In A New Era For US Tourism
Joby Aviation has begun flight testing its first FAA‑conforming eVTOL, N547JX, marking a critical step toward Type Inspection Authorization and eventual type certification. The aircraft meets FAA‑approved design standards and will undergo final TIA tests at Joby’s Marina, California facility...
Honeywell Chosen by U.S. Air Force to Design Prototype Engine System for CCA
Honeywell Aerospace secured a U.S. Air Force prototype contract to design a propulsion system for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) using its new SkyShot 1600 engine. The SkyShot 1600 can operate as a turbojet or turbofan, delivering 800‑2,800 pounds of...
Airport Planners Brace for Weeks of Travel Chaos Even After the War
Airport Coordination Limited (ACL) announced it will not penalize airlines for cancellations caused by the Iran‑related war and will provide slot relief for up to six weeks after hostilities cease. The conflict has already forced the cancellation of more than...
Loft Orbital Aims To Launch AI-Processing Satellites Later This Year
Loft Orbital, a San Francisco‑based space startup, announced plans to launch an AI‑processing satellite constellation later this year. The fleet will run a lightweight, low‑power AI model directly on board, sidestepping the energy demands of large terrestrial models. By analyzing...
The R66 Turbinetruck: The Little Cargo Copter without a Cockpit
Robinson’s R66 Turbinetruck is an autonomous cargo helicopter that replaces the traditional cockpit with clamshell doors, leveraging Sikorsky’s MATRIX autonomy suite. Powered by a single Rolls‑Royce RR300 engine, it weighs 2,900 lb gross and can carry up to 1,200 lb of payload,...
Video Shows US Forces Destroying some of Iran's Old American-Made Warplanes
U.S. Central Command released video showing airstrikes that set fire to an Iranian Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a P-3F Orion maritime patrol aircraft, and an Ilyushin Il-76 freighter. The footage, posted on X, confirms the destruction of several legacy American-made planes...
Breeze Airways Cuts Nine Routes and Adds One
Breeze Airways announced the termination of nine routes across its network, including under‑performing services from Manchester to Orlando, Tampa to Orange County, and several Westchester County connections. The airline will introduce a single new route, offering twice‑weekly flights between Raleigh‑Durham...
Delta TechOps Expands MRO Capabilities With CFM LEAP 1A & 1B Engine Support
Delta TechOps announced it is now licensed to maintain both CFM LEAP‑1A and LEAP‑1B engines, becoming the only North American carrier with full LEAP MRO capability. The certification covers the A320neo and 737 MAX families, the world’s best‑selling narrow‑body aircraft. Delta recently...
Taiwan's Far Eastern Air Transport MD-83 to Be Auctioned
Taiwan's government agency announced that Far Eastern Air Transport's McDonnell Douglas MD‑83 will be auctioned, marking the third attempt to sell the aircraft after the carrier’s bankruptcy and legal entanglements. The narrow‑body jet, grounded since 2025, is being offered to...
ESA Shows Space Circular Economy Is Viable
Building a circular economy in space: European Space Agency studies pave the way “orbit refurbishment, manufacturing, and recycling are not just technological experiments but are viable options to form the foundation of a future circular economy in space" https://t.co/Zc2mH5u3fB
Tenkoh‑2 Satellite Deployed From HTV‑X1 on March 11
The Tenkoh-2 satellite was deployed at 0934 UTC Mar 11 from the HTV-X1 cargo ship, which left the ISS on Mar 6
The Post-Capacity Era of Satellite Connectivity
Novaspace’s eighth Capacity Pricing Trends report declares a Post‑Capacity Era for satellite connectivity, where bandwidth is no longer the primary differentiator. Starlink’s sub‑$0.30 per GB pricing is driving a structural decline in capacity costs and forcing the industry to compete...
SpaceX Lowers 1,600 Starlink Satellites to Lower Orbit
SpaceX's massive redeployment of its higher orbit (~550 km) Starlink sats to a lower (~480 km) orbital shell continues. 652 sats have completed orbit lowering while 972 are currently on the way down https://t.co/BFtdccOGvs
Norse Atlantic Airways: Another Loss in 2025, but Profitability May Be Within Reach
Norse Atlantic Airways posted its fourth consecutive annual loss in 2025 despite achieving a record‑high 96% load factor and a 99.4% flight‑completion rate. The airline has begun shifting away from a summer‑centric Atlantic model, adding winter services to Thailand and...
Satellite Shows Possible B‑2 GBU‑57 Strikes on Iran’s
Did B-2s Just Drop GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators On Another Iranian Nuclear Site? Satellite imagery shows a prized hardened facility at Iran's Parchin military complex with three massive impact points in a neat row on top. https://t.co/iqrFn2XO2R
Rocket Factory
Ok. Since you asked so nicely, here’s a few from the NG factory. Can’t beat a rocket factory… And the folks taking me around are awesome. Anything else? https://t.co/XW4SA1PBpD
BermudAir Unveils Expanded Summer 2026 Schedule With 29 Weekly Flights
BermudAir announced its summer 2026 schedule, offering 29 weekly flights from nine North American gateways. The airline adds daily service from Boston and combined daily frequencies for the New York area, while Toronto sees six‑day‑a‑week operations. All flights use Embraer...
Delta Files Manila Route, Aiming to Stall PAL's Chicago Service
Delta Quietly Reveals Plan To Fly To Manila In DOT Filing — As It Tries To Delay Philippine Airlines Chicago Flight - View from the Wing https://t.co/EUw1i5SSNd
Delta Air Lines Is Planning Nonstop Los Angeles to Manila Flights for Summer 2027
Delta Air Lines announced plans to launch a daily nonstop flight between Los Angeles International Airport and Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport starting in summer 2027. The service will be operated with an Airbus A350‑900 configured with 32 Delta One,...
Lufthansa Cargo Minimizes Delays During Pilot Strike
Lufthansa Cargo will operate more than 80% of its scheduled all‑cargo flights on Thursday and Friday despite a 48‑hour pilot strike over pension and pay demands. The carrier expects to maintain over 50% of its overall flight schedule, with long‑haul...
We Just Got Our First Look Ever At The B-21 Raider Performing This Risky Maneuver
The U.S. Air Force captured its first public glimpse of a B‑21 Raider linking up with a KC‑135R Stratotanker for mid‑air refueling, a risky maneuver that validates the bomber’s operational envelope. The test, part of a series of flight trials,...
U.S. Air Force B-1 And B-52 Bombers Now Striking Iran From The UK
The U.S. Air Force has positioned eight B‑1B Lancer and three B‑52H Stratofortress bombers at RAF Fairford, UK, to conduct Operation Epic Fury strikes against Iran. Forward‑based aircraft cut flight times to Iranian targets by more than half, enabling a rapid, high‑tempo...
Rheinmetall Withdraws From Mynaric Bidding Process; Rocket Lab Acquisition Clears Major Competitive Hurdle
Rheinmetall AG announced it will not submit a formal bid for laser‑communications specialist Mynaric AG, ending a brief period of speculation about a German “national solution” to block Rocket Lab’s $150 million acquisition. The withdrawal leaves Rocket Lab as the sole...
Shareholders of Canada’s Air Transat Stick to Strategic Plan
Air Transat’s shareholders have voted to maintain the airline’s current strategic plan, backing management’s restructuring agenda. The plan emphasizes fleet modernization with the first A321XLR slated for delivery in late 2027 and a focused reduction of underperforming U.S. routes. It...
MQ-9s Over Iran: Striking and Finding Targets—But Taking Some Losses
U.S. MQ‑9 Reaper drones are conducting persistent ISR and precision strikes against Iranian missile and drone launchers as part of Operation Epic Fury, having hit more than 5,500 targets since the conflict began. Iran’s air defenses have managed to down...
Press Release: Asia-Pacific Carrier Acquires Refurbished Dash 8-400s
De Havilland Canada announced that an undisclosed Asia‑Pacific carrier has signed a purchase agreement for three refurbished Dash 8‑400 turboprops. The aircraft will be overhauled with upgraded cabins and modernized systems, with deliveries slated for 2027 and 2028. The deal reinforces...
Panasonic's Curved OLED IFE Targets First-Class Luxury
As premium travel surges, Panasonic Avionics’ curved, ultra-wide OLED IFE screen, Astrova Curve, is sparking the imagination of airlines that want to ‘wow’ passengers seated in their most premium real estate. PAC sees it debuting in first-class cabins. https://t.co/sXnCdZLfAw
Deep Dive Into Satellite Internet Landscape with Experts
Wherein @anshelsag and I talk about Starlink, AST SpaceMobile, Lynk, Viasat, OneWeb... And everything in between. Check it out: https://t.co/jcuKzYPx9n https://t.co/oOsN1Ip41x
Ukrainian Defense Companies Moving To All Domestic Production Of Components
Ukrainian drone and defense firms are rapidly localizing component production, now achieving 80‑90% domestic content for first‑level parts and aiming for 100% on‑shoring of critical systems. Companies such as The Fourth Law and Unwave are building a semiconductor fab to...
New Episodes Guide Travelers Through Middle East Airline Crisis
We’re live with two new episodes of On-Air in your podcast feeds now focusing on the Middle East crisis impacting airline passengers worldwide, advice for Gulf carrier bookings, refunds/reroute advice, extreme Asia-Europe fares, & more. 🎧✈️ Listen here: https://t.co/z0qO1zK32M
Van Allen Probe A Reenters Pacific Near Mexico, Ecuador
[Corrected:] Van Allen Probe A reentered at 1037 UTC Mar 11 over 105W 2S, equatorial Pacific south of Mexico and west of Ecuador, per Space Force data
New Study Says There's a Way to Make Dyson Bubbles and Stellar Engines Stable
Physicist Colin R. McInnes has shown that Dyson Bubbles and flat‑disk Stellar Engines can be engineered for passive stability, countering long‑standing claims of inherent gravitational instability. By concentrating mass at the rim of a reflective disc, radiation pressure and gravity can...
US Bombers Deploy Bunker Busters, Boost Air Supremacy Over Iran
Bombers In England Being Loaded With Bunker Busters A Sign Of Increasing Air Supremacy Over Iran There are now 15 American bombers that are flying strike missions against Iran from RAF Fairford. https://t.co/mveSNbKWeo
SpaceBridge CEO David Gelerman Explains Why UniHub Is a Pivotal Launch for Company
SpaceBridge is set to unveil UniHub at SATShow 2026, a software‑defined, modular VSAT hub packaged in a compact 3RU enclosure. The all‑in‑one solution promises up to five‑fold performance gains over the legacy ASAT‑II architecture and dramatically faster field deployment. CEO...
Lockheed Martin, Air Force Project Tests Missile Evasion with AI-Piloted Fighters
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and the USAF Test Pilot School demonstrated AI‑piloted fighters evading missiles on the X‑62A VISTA, a modified F‑16. Dozens of AI agents were trained in randomized, high‑fidelity simulations before being uploaded to a tablet and given control...
Contrivian Becomes Authorized Reseller of Amazon Leo for State, Local Governments
Contrivian announced it has become an authorized reseller of Amazon’s Leo low‑Earth‑orbit satellite service, extending its portfolio of multi‑modal connectivity for U.S. state and local governments. The partnership allows Contrivian to embed Leo’s satellite links into its software‑defined network platform,...
SYOS Autonomous Uncrewed Heavy-Lift Helicopter Aces Trials, Now Ready for Serial Production
SYOS Aerospace announced its SA200 heavy‑lift uncrewed helicopter has successfully completed fully autonomous take‑off and landing trials from moving platforms, clearing it for serial production. The aircraft can lift up to 200 kg, fly 180 km (extendable to 300 km) and uses the...
German MilSatcom Program Overloaded, Delays Expected
.@RheinmetallAG on @OHB JV, + @Airbus as production partner, for $10B German milsatcom constellation, updates on @iceye_global radarsat JV. @bundeswehrInfo generating more procurements than @BaainBw ecosystem can handle. Delays likely. @AirbusSpace.https://t.co/lrTwhaP1uT https://t.co/BWNyguo0Ab
Dassault Unveils Falcon 10X as First Flight Nears
Dassault Aviation has unveiled its new Falcon 10X business jet, positioning it as the company’s most ambitious entry into the ultra‑long‑range market. The clean‑sheet aircraft is slated for its first flight within weeks, marking the start of an intensive flight‑test campaign....
ST Engineering iDirect Forms African Connectivity Partnership With Q-KON
ST Engineering iDirect and African satellite services firm Q‑KON announced a partnership to launch the Intuition Unbound platform across Africa. Q‑KON will provide satellite capacity and teleport facilities in South Africa, while iDirect supplies its scalable ground connectivity solution. The...
Swarm Aero Raises $35M Series A Financing
Swarm Aero announced a $35 million Series A round led by Two Sigma Ventures and Silent Ventures, bringing its total capital to $59 million. The financing includes participation from Khosla Ventures, Coatue, Founders Fund and several other investors. The company also unveiled an...
What Happened When ESA Simulated a Mission to Mars on Earth
The European Space Agency partnered with Russia’s Institute of Biomedical Problems to run MARS500, a ground‑based simulation of a 520‑day crewed Mars mission from 2010‑2011. Six international participants lived in sealed modules, experienced realistic communication delays, and followed a scripted...
Missile Strike Hits SES Teleport in Israel
Satellite operator SES confirmed that a missile struck its teleport facility in Emek Ha’ela, Israel on March 9, damaging a small portion of the geostationary antenna field. The company reported no injuries and said core services and power remained operational, activating...
AIAA SciTech Forum 2026 Event Recap Published
The AIAA released its 2026 SciTech Forum recap, detailing attendance, program content, and engagement metrics. The report notes more than 7,000 participants representing over 50 nations and a technical program of 150 sessions spanning next‑generation aerospace topics. Digital interactions generated...