Purpose-Built, Combat-Relevant Platform Feels Like Real Thing

MD Helicopters announced the unveiling of its MD  530F, a new training aircraft to directly reflect the demands of the U.S. Army’s Flight School Next vision for the next generation of Army Aviation pilots.

Seeks First Flight Before AirVenture Oshkosh 2025

Sonex Aircraft announced that its high-wing prototype aircraft has had its first engine start, which fired up immediately with no issues and it also successfully completed its first taxi and brake tests.

Pilots of Starlink-Equipped Jets Report Interference in Communications

United Airlines has temporarily shut off its Starlink satellite internet system on a portion of its fleet after pilots reported static interference during radio transmissions. The airline confirmed that nearly two dozen Embraer E175 regional jets equipped with the system were affected.

Twenty Were On Board During the Collision, Leaving Four Seriously Injured

A skydiving plane carrying 20 people crashed shortly after takeoff near Tullahoma Regional Airport in Tennessee on Sunday, June 8, prompting a large-scale emergency response. The crash occurred around 12:30 pm near the Beechcraft Heritage Museum.

Also: AV-30-C Software Upgrade, Paraglider Extremes, EarthX STC for Pitts, Vintage Aircraft Association

Not only have the folks at Van’s Aircraft designed a new wing for the RV-15, but they just started flying it. One of the most anxiously awaited aircraft expected at Oshkosh 2025 seems to be hitting its final strides before Van’s freezes the design and starts on a path to kithood. The new wing offers a number of upgrades including an expansion of fuel capacity to 60 gallons, and the first flight apparently met with the approval of those involved in the initial flight test, though data is slim at this point. The first in the Scalebirds Lite Fighter series is nearing design completion after extensive flight testing and some final load tests. The first of their birds, a P-36 (to be followed by a P-40), has been flying for some time now and some kits are in the process of being distributed and evaluated by test builders. A novel Son

NASA, Axiom Space, SpaceX Mount Fourth Private Spaceflight

The fourth commercial private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, Axiom Mission 4, is targeting launch for 8 am EDT, Wednesday June 11, 2025. The crew includes Peggy Whitson as mission commander, Shubhanshu Shukla as pilot, and mission specialists S?awosz Uzna?ski-Wi?niewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.

Stimulating Innovation, Reinvigorating R&D, Promoting Int’l Engagement

President Donald Trump issued an executive order on June 6 that, among other things, directs the FAA to rescind the prohibition of supersonic flight in the U.S. over land, establishes noise-based certification standards, and repeals other regulatory barriers that have hindered faster-than-sound flight and related research for 52 years.

Also: Snowbirds Ready!, NATA Wants Bedford, ATC Infrastructure Investment, Russia Refutes Drone Damage

Alvin Brown, former Jacksonville mayor, is suing President Donald Trump after being removed from his position as vice chair of the NTSB. His dismissal had allegedly no reasoning to back it up, putting it in direct violation of the agency’s statutory protections. Sensenich took a company-wide day off on June 6, 2025, to celebrate a major milestone: the production of its 100,000th composite propeller blade. The manufacturer began venturing into composites, expanding from its already wide collection of wood and metal designs, in the late 1990s. Upcoming executive orders under President Trump could put an end to the game of tag that has left Chinese drone manufacturer DJI on the run from a US import ban for years. Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik introduced the Countering CCP Drones Act in April 2023, which would have placed mega d

From 2021: The Inside Skinny On What Being An ANN Oshkosh Stringer Is All About

By ANN Senior Stringer Extraordinare, Gene Yarbrough The annual gathering at Oshkosh is a right of passage or a pilgrimage to Mecca for many. However the rank and file public rarely have the opportunity to experience the FULL Oshkosh experience. Oshkosh, like onions and ogres, is a multi-layered microcosm within the enigma of the greater Wisconsin county in which it transpires. The Aero-News Network stringer has opportunity, and if so inclined, the access to every aspect of general aviation including the "behind the scenes" view few even know exist.

An Amazing Experience Awaits The Chosen Few...

Oshkosh, to us, seems the perfect place to get started on watching aviation recover the past couple of years... and so ANN is putting EXTRA effort and resources into our coverage of Oshkosh 2025... just a little under 90 days hence. We are now undertaking the process to seek talented stringers to help us present Oshkosh and the sport and general aviation community to the world around us. If you ever thought about joining us, this is THE year to do it. IF YOU want to be a part of this unique adventure, speak up NOW, rather than later, because we're going to be looking for the best volunteer folks we can find and are planning to do so ASAP. You've been warned (grin)....