Know What's Happening in Aerospace
Know What's Happening in Aerospace
China tests 7.5‑tonne hydrogen‑turboprop cargo plane
China’s Aero Engine Corporation flew a 7.5‑tonne unmanned cargo aircraft powered by a 1‑megawatt hydrogen turboprop for 16 minutes, covering 36 km at 220 km/h and 300 m altitude. The test demonstrates the engine’s reliability and the country’s claim of a fully domestic hydrogen‑engine supply chain.
Southwest Airlines disclosed a modest 1.1% profit‑sharing bonus for its workforce while reporting $441 million profit on a record $28.1 billion revenue for 2025. The airline’s transformation plan, driven by Elliott, introduced free Wi‑Fi, assigned seating and new premium fares, but many changes have yet to show financial upside. Southwest also allocated $2.9 billion to stock buybacks, underscoring a focus on shareholder returns. Management says data on the new seating and fare structures will be evaluated next month to gauge revenue impact.
Wizz Air has slashed its Airbus A321XLR order from 47 to 11, converting most to standard A321neos. The carrier plans to operate the remaining XLRs as if they were A321neos, focusing on short‑ to medium‑haul economics rather than ultra‑long routes....
Aer Lingus announced it will permanently close its Manchester transatlantic long‑haul base on March 31, 2026, ending flights to New York, Orlando and Barbados. The shutdown eliminates roughly 200 cabin‑crew positions and follows a strike over a rejected 9% pay rise....
Helicopters remain essential to modern joint‑force operations despite recent high‑profile losses. Russian air‑assault failures at Hostomel exposed coordination, intelligence, and air‑defence challenges, while the U.S. operation in Venezuela demonstrated precise, integrated helicopter insertions enabled by extensive SEAD, cyber, and space...
American Airlines posted an 87% drop in 2025 profit, widening the gap with Delta and United. The loss is tied to CEO Robert Isom’s cost‑cutting and a muddled premium‑focus strategy that left the carrier competing with low‑cost rivals. Rumors suggest...
Massachusetts National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Gary Keefe led a senior delegation to Asunción in January 2026, marking the 25‑year anniversary of the State Partnership Program with Paraguay. The visit featured award ceremonies, the inauguration of new air‑base hangars,...
Air Canada announced an Airbus A321XLR base at Toronto Pearson, enabling year‑round service to Copenhagen and extending the seasonal Manchester route into the winter of 2026. The new base complements an existing A321XLR hub in Montreal, expanding the carrier’s narrow‑body...
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has signed a landmark deal with Russia's United Aircraft Corporation to assemble the Sukhoi Superjet 100, rebranded as the Yakovlev SJ‑100, in India. The agreement, announced at Wings India 2026, marks the nation’s first domestic civil...
The episode examines the fatal crash of a Bombardier Learjet 45XR (VT‑SSK) at Baramati Airport on January 28, 2026, detailing the flight’s departure from Mumbai, its attempted visual approaches, and the final loss of signal before the accident. It highlights...
Polaris Spaceplanes has secured a contract from Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In‑Service Support (BAAINBw) to develop and flight‑test a fully reusable, two‑stage hypersonic vehicle dubbed the Hypersonic Test and Experimentation Vehicle (HYTEV). The vehicle, roughly...
The episode examines the UK261/EU261 passenger rights regulation, highlighting its importance for travelers and exposing gaps when flying with non‑EU carriers like American Airlines, which often leave passengers to foot hotel and meal costs during weather‑related delays. The host proposes...
Boeing reported a fourth‑quarter profit of $8.2 billion, buoyed by the $10.6 billion sale of its Jeppesen software unit and a record 160 commercial aircraft deliveries. However, its Commercial Airplanes and Defense, Space & Security divisions posted losses of $632 million and $507 million...
Col. Wilfred “Glenn” Mackey, a retired USAF colonel and AIAA senior member, passed away in September 2025. He logged over 4,000 flight hours, served as a Skyraider pilot in Vietnam, and later led test and development programs. After retirement, Mackey...
In this episode, hosts Jacob Pinter and Padi Boyd take listeners inside NASA’s Artemis II mission, touring the Orion crew capsule with vehicle manager Branelle Rodriguez and exploring its life‑support, habitability, and waste‑management systems. They also sit down with Space Launch...
Indonesia received its first three French‑made Rafale fighter jets on Jan 23, marking the initial delivery of an $8.1 billion contract for 42 aircraft. The jets are now based at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base and will kick‑start pilot training and operational conversion. The...
On Tuesday the NTSB will announce and vote on the probable cause of the Jan. 29, 2025 midair collision between an Army Black Hawk and an American Airlines CRJ700 at Washington D.C. The board will also consider safety recommendations, though the final...
The Connecticut National Guard’s 1109th Aviation Classification and Repair Depot (AVCRAD) in Groton performs depot‑level refurbishment of Army rotary‑wing aircraft, including UH‑60 Black Hawks, CH‑47 Chinooks and AH‑64 Apaches. By stripping helicopters to component level and rebuilding them to factory...
The host recounts a stellar long‑haul flight on an American Airlines 787‑9 and uses that experience to propose three low‑cost airline service innovations. The first idea is a simple notification system that alerts passengers when their checked bag misses the...
The FAA issued an interim final rule on Jan. 22 that permanently codifies helicopter and powered‑lift restrictions around Washington’s Reagan National Airport following the Jan. 29, 2025 Black Hawk‑CRJ700 collision. The rule lowers the vertical‑lift altitude ceiling to 1,500 feet and defines “essential” flights—medical,...
Oregon Army National Guard aircrews identified a mismatch between the new Vita Vertical Rescue System (VRS) and existing Black Hawk litter straps, prompting them to redesign the strap as SK‑1189‑V. After prototyping with Skedco and six months of testing, the...
Garmin’s Emergency Autoland, designed for pilot incapacitation, saw its first operational use on Dec 20, 2025 when a Beechcraft King Air B200 experienced rapid depressurization. The system automatically engaged and guided the aircraft to a safe landing at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, while...
In this episode of The Product Experience, Randy Silver interviews Cristina Bustos, Product Manager at Swiss AviationSoftware, about launching a native mobile app for pilots in the highly regulated aviation sector. Cristina shares how she shifted from business analysis to...
Slovenian firm Carboteh unveiled the Battlefield Anti‑Aircraft Non‑Kinetic (BANS) system at UMEX & SimTEX 2026, a handheld UV emitter that mimics a missile launch to trigger aircraft missile‑warning systems. The device forces hostile helicopters and low‑flying aircraft to dispense flares, depleting their limited...
The Hawker business jet line, originating from de Havilland’s HS‑125 in the early 1960s, evolved through dozens of variants and multiple owners before ending production in 2012. Over 1,670 aircraft were built, praised for ruggedness, spacious cabins, and long‑range capability, while...
New GAO and NAVAIR reviews expose decades‑long safety gaps in the V‑22 Osprey program, highlighting 34 unresolved risks, eight of them catastrophic, and a surge in serious mishaps during 2023‑2024. The reports show that critical component failures—such as hard‑clutch engagement...
The episode examines the abrupt termination of the Mars Sample Return (MSR) program, focusing on ESA’s Earth Return Orbiter (ERO) and the implications of Daniel Neuenschwander’s declaration that the mission will not continue. It delves into the historical context of...
Jeppesen ForeFlight announced significant layoffs, citing automation and artificial intelligence as drivers of change. The cuts come months after Boeing divested the two aviation‑software units, which were bought by private‑equity firm Thoma Bravo. CEO Brad Surak emphasized the need to modernize development...
Pakistan is actively negotiating JF‑17 Thunder sales with multiple countries, including Bangladesh, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Sudan, Libya and Azerbaijan. The deals on the table range from a $1 billion Indonesian purchase of 40 jets to a potential $4 billion Saudi package...
In this episode Oliver walks listeners through the five-stage process airlines use to turn a seat concept into a certified, flight‑ready product, drawing on his firsthand experience at Qatar Airways. He explains the Initial Technical Co‑ordination Meeting (ITCM) where stakeholders...
United Airlines announced it will convert 56 pending Boeing 787‑9 orders into the larger 787‑10 model. The shift addresses chronic gate shortages and limited air‑traffic‑control capacity at U.S. airports. United has not yet chosen an engine supplier for the aircraft,...
Earth observation (EO) venture funding reached a record $2 billion in 2025, up 15% from 2024 and surpassing the 2023 peak. Over 90% of the capital flowed into acquisition and intelligence segments, while processing finally recorded meaningful investment. Late‑stage rounds exploded...
The episode examines the Airline Pilots Association’s (ALPA) open letter to Spirit Airlines bondholders, accusing them—particularly Citadel—of jeopardizing Spirit’s Chapter 11 restructuring and threatening thousands of jobs in South Florida. It contextualizes Spirit’s woes within broader challenges facing the U.S....
The episode examines Boom Supersonic’s proposed Overture routes—New York to London, Paris to Washington DC, and Tokyo to Honolulu—by assessing their economic plausibility, market fit, and competition from sub‑sonic flights. The host argues that the New York‑London service could attract business travelers and...
In this episode, host Jim Smith argues that the Messerschmitt Bf 109 was the greatest WWII fighter, citing its groundbreaking 1934 design, superior performance in early campaigns, and sheer production numbers. He compares the Bf 109E to the early Spitfire,...
