Hasn’t Been Done Since At Least The 1960s

The Commemorative Air Force’s Col. Mark Novak has accumulated more than 1,000 flight hours in the two remaining airworthy B-29 Superfortress aircraft, Fifi and Doc, a feat that has not been accomplished in at least 65 years.

Also: Sikorsky-CAL FIRE Collab, Big WestJet Order, Southwest Fined, AA's 1000th Mainline Aircraft

The folks at Deltahawk took us up on an invitation to join us at the Midwest Aviation Expo in Mt. Vernon Illinois... where Jim Campbell conducted a reacquaintance test flight in their SR20 testbed... 2 and half years after he flew it the first time... the first aviation journalist to enjoy the distinction. The next generation of Deltahawk Diesel, as installed in the SR20 is an astounding 277 pounds lighter... The aviation world, occasionally, has to put up with its share of nutballs... this time from a 57-year-old man from North Bend, who is now facing 17 charges after police say he broke into the GA area of Southwest Oregon Regional. Joby Aviation announced the completion of a first-of-its-kind demonstration of its autonomous flight technology in logging more than 7,000 miles of autonomous operations in over 40 flight hours, including the succe

MOSAIC-Centric Event Set For November 6-8, 2025... DON'T Miss It!

After a master strategy meeting this last week on the grounds of the Sun n Fun Aerospace Expo campus, details have been completed for the first MOSAIC-dedicated, MOSAIC-centric Affordable Flying Expo (AFE25). With the rule officially announced, AFE25 stands to be the best opportunity for MOSAIC-interested folks to get their questions answered and for the industry to show the aviation community that they are ready to serve this expanding niche. 

Last Surviving Pilot Of “The Bloody Hundredth” B-17 Bomb Group

The Commemorative Air Force announced that long-time friend and hero of WWII, John “Lucky” Luckadoo flew West on August 2, at 103 years of age. Lucky was the last surviving B-17 bomber pilot from the 100th Bomb Group during World War II, known as “The Bloody Hundredth.”

DGCA May Allow Planes Up to 20 Years Old to Be Imported for Commercial Use

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, India’s aviation safety regulator, is proposing an amendment that would allow aircraft up to 20 years old to be imported for commercial use, extending the current limitation by two years. This aims to soothe the global supply chain headache that has hampered deliveries.

Residents Pack Planning/Zoning Meeting To Voice Dissent

In a contentious meeting that went to nearly midnight on August 7, The Planning and Zoning Commission of the town of Double Oak, Texas, voted unanimously to deny a special use permit (SUP) application for a property owner to install a helipad on their property.

Also: Carrier Landings Not Required, UAL To Tel Aviv, ATC in College, EMAS Systems Stop 2

Swift Fuels 100R unleaded fuel has earned ASTM production specification approval. This 100-octane blend is the company’s third to pass the milestone, with its UL94 being on the market for over a decade. The Commemorative Air Force’s iconic B-24, Diamond Lil, is working hard to maintain its status as the only regularly flying Liberator. It recently accomplished its first engine run in more than a year and is now progressing through extensive testing and inspections before getting back in the air. Diamond Lil was grounded in April 2024 after routine inspections revealed weather damage to her fabric-covered control surfaces. Who said we can’t be excited for Florida’s favorite airshow year-round? EarlyBird Tickets for SUN ‘n FUN’s 52nd annual aerospace expo, celebrating ‘Red, White, and Blue at 52,’ have offic

Also: AF Autonomous Cargo Ops, HOVERAir, Starship’s Florida Launches, SkyDrive SD-05

The YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft has begun its flight testing in coordination with the U.S. Air Force, taking a vital step for its manufacturer, General Atomics. The CCA is a much-needed improvement over existing fixed-wing UAVs in the portfolio, adding a slew of low-observability elements to keep up with developments abroad. The Oceanside, California, Police Department is rolling out a trial run of its ‘drone as first responder’ program using funds from a state grant to improve police response times and provide situational awareness for officers enroute to the scene. The program will be used for emergency calls requiring rapid police presence. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced the start of the next step in identifying a Prime Integrator to manage the creation of a brand new air traff

Also: Boeing Pleads for Extension, Airport Admin Under Review, Huntington Beach Airshow, Spirit Files Again

DoT Secretary Sean P. Duffy notified FAA headquarters staff employees spread among six locations in Washington, D.C. that they’ll be relocating to the department’s building in the southeastern area of the city. Officials of the union, however, have raised concerns about the plan. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford wrote an email to staff that the timing for each office’s relocation would be finalized soon. Just days ahead of Poland’s largest aviation gathering, the leader of the country’s Tiger Demo Team was behind the controls of an F-16 that crashed, unfortunately costing him his life. Major Maciej “SLAB” Krakowian is remembered as one of Poland’s most talented and passionate pilots. The F-16C fighter jet crashed on August 28, 2025, during rehearsal for the Radom International Airshow. US

Proposal Would Keep Flight Attendants Under the Federal Minimum Wage

99.4 percent of Air Canada flight attendants turned out to vote on the airline’s wage offer, and the opinion was overwhelmingly clear: a 12 percent year-one increase just doesn’t cut it. The union points out that this pay bump is still below the federal minimum wage, accusing the government of quashing its ability to bargain.