More Needed Upfront To Fully Fund Upgrades, Workforce Expansion

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said that the FAA’s allocation in the House-approved spending bill will not be enough to support all the upgrades necessary to rebuild the agency’s air traffic control system.

First Reflight Of Super Heavy Booster, Stage Separation Successful

The ninth test flight of SpaceX’s Starship lifted off from Starbase in South Texas at 6:36 p.m. CDT on May 27, and experienced a mixed bag of results with the first reflight of the Super Heavy booster and the upper stage Ship getting farther than it did the past two test flights.

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)....

Mission Patch Unveiled

Blue Origin announced that its 12th human mission, New Shepard Mission 32 or NS-32, is scheduled to launch from Launch Site One in West Texas on Saturday May 31, 2025, with the launch window slated to open at 8:30 a.m. CDT / 13:30 UTC.

Carrier Reverts ‘Bags Fly Free’ Rule, Charges $35 for the First Bag

Self-proclaimed low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines has officially reverted a long-standing policy and will be charging $35-45 per checked bag. This is part of a recent, yet determined push for improved profitability... i.e., greed.  Fortunately, the policy change only applies to future bookings and includes several exceptions.

State’s Transportation Department Sifted Through 81 Applications

The final list of approved projects under the Kansas Airport Improvement Program (KAIP) was recently released, showcasing 47 aviation initiatives receiving a total of $14.5 million in state funding. Including local matching, this year’s KAIP value is nearly $23 million.

Also: Horizon X7 eVTOL, Golden Dome, Merlin Exp A/W Cert, Rotors v Trees

SpaceX launched its ninth flight test of a complete Starship vehicle nearly on time after a few minutes of holds before getting a move on. This was a far tougher flight test than previous missions, especially for the booster which was subjected to some aggressive and adverse test conditions... which it did not survive before its scheduled landing in the Gulf of America. This was the second flight of the booster... Electra has conducted wind tunnel testing at the MIT Wright Brothers Wind Tunnel that confirmed its blown wing design delivers the high lift for takeoff and landing within just 150 feet, or about 10% of the distance required by conventional aircraft of similar size. Elektra Solar announced that its Elektra Solar Trainer aircraft successfully completed a 900-mile trip from southwestern Germany through Austria and Hungary, terminating in Brasov, Romania. The tri

Also: Warbirds In Review Schedule, Yak-55M Gets Tossed, DOGE-NTSB Budget Cuts, Joint Base Andrews

The Ercoupe Owners Club announced its 2025 National Convention will be held from Tuesday, July 15 to Saturday, July 19, at the Wausau Downtown Airport (KAUW) in Wisconsin. This year’s event will celebrate the 85th anniversary of the ‘Coupe’s Type Certificate. After the convention, the group will depart for the EAA AirVenture fly-in at Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) in Oshkosh. Federal Air Surgeon Susan Northrup, MD, PHD, discussed on the FAA’s YouTube channel “Pilot Minute” what came out of the Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) on mental health. Their work was informed through feedback gathered from aviation and medical professionals around the world regarding the barriers that prevent or hinder pilots from reporting and seeking treatment for mental health concerns. The General Aviation Manufacturers Associ

Also: Hermeus Quarterhorse MK1, Seaplane Rating Guide, Vietjet A330neos, SFO Wacky Weed Bust

As the air traffic controller shortage trudges on, the US Department of Transportation is rolling out even more financial incentives (aka bribes) to encourage experienced controllers to remain on the job beyond retirement age. The latest offer is a 20% annual bonus. Vertical Aerospace announced that its VX4 eVTOL performed its first successful winged flight with a pilot at the controls, marking the first piloted wingborne flight of a winged eVTOL in open European airspace. The flight, piloted by Chief Test Pilot Simon Davies, came on the heels of approval by the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority, or CAA. SpaceX launched its ninth flight test of a complete Starship vehicle nearly on time after a few minutes of holds before getting a move on. This was a far tougher flight test than previous missions, especially for the booster which was subjected to some ag

Also: Elektra Solar Trainer, U.S. Nationals Update, SeaMax M-22 Catches Fire, Bearhawk Aircraft At SUN ‘n FUN

The Vans Aircraft engineering team recently provided its spring progress update to the RV-15 build, showing off its redesigned tail, control system, and fuel tanks. The plane is nearing its final configuration. The design was first introduced at Oshkosh 2022, hoping to bring it to market in mid to late 2023. Followers got some new updates at the 2024 airshow, including a delayed anticipated production date of late 2025. The EAA announced that the FAA-approved updates to the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025 Notice, commonly known as the Oshkosh NOTAM, has been released for this year’s 72nd fly-in and convention that runs from July 21-27 at Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The changes and updates are based on pilot feedback and FAA review of recommendations pertaining to arrival procedures. The folks at Lon