Major “SLAB” Krakowian Was the Leader of the F-16 Tiger Demo Team

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 Air Force Flew its First B-21 in November 2023 and is Finishing Up Test Flights

US Air Force leadership, while clarifying that deadline-less operation is the “secret sauce” of the program, recently revealed that the first flight of its second B-21 Raider may come sooner than expected. The service’s first of the long-range stealth bomber has been airborne since November 2023.

Union Says Red Flags Raised For Workforce

Department of Transportation 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’s reasonableness and said the workforce was not notified in a timely manner.

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. 

Also: 500-Aircraft Deal With China, Florida ANG's F-35, FAA Denies Petition, UC Central Arkansas Aviation Academy

The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) is offering its apologies to fans for the double class withdrawal from this year’s National Championship Air Races (NCAR). This comes in the form of 10 percent ticket refunds on existing orders, a 10 percent price drop on all new tickets, and the option to seek a complete refund or deferral to 2026. The three largest European suppliers of leaded avgas were recently granted an extension to the EU’s ban, securing 100LL production until April 2032. The first of the three approvals, granted for Shell, came from the European Commission’s REACH Committee on June 26. It passed with 26 votes in favor, one abstention, and none opposed, effectively securing Shell’s 100LL supply chain for the next seven years. DHS may be looking to create its own sort of airline for deporting il

Also: ERAU Uses UAVs, P550 Group 2 UAS, Starship’s Florida Launches, NASA Missions Chopped

The Air Force has put out a call to commission a one-to-one copy of the Iranian-designed Shahed-136. This is a low-cost attack drone that Russia has been using heavily against Ukraine… and that the US wants to know just how to take down. The request for information specifies that the drone must match the Shahed’s form, fit, and function, though the government isn’t providing any technical specifics. The X37B Orbital Test Vehicle launched this past week, August 21, on its eighth mission, lifting off at 11:50 p.m. ET aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Kennedy Space Center, Fla. The vehicle is now reported as 'healthy' on orbit and proceeding with standard checkout. Less than six months after completing its seventh mission with a landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., on March 7, 2025, the spaceplane is back in space. The US A

Sibling Power Rivalry? Half-Brother Ordered 2023 Arrest

Ruslan Obiang Nsue, the son of Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo who is the President of Equatorial Guinea, was convicted of illegally selling an aircraft owned by the state airline Ceiba Intercontinental. Nsue’s arrest in 2023 was ordered by his half-brother Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, who is the Vice president of Equatorial Guinea.

Also: Air Race Tkts Marked Down, Kirk Hawkins Lost, GADFLY AI-Driven Engine Analysis, Sport Aviation Halls of Fame

The Aero-News crew is getting ready to pack up a lot of video gear, their laptops and other tools in order to cover next week’s MidWest Aviation Expo. The 17th ANNUAL Midwest Aviation Expo will be Thursday, September 4-6, 2025 at the Mt. Vernon Outland Airport (MVN) Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Midwest Aviation Expo has been specifically organized to showcase the sport aviation industry and they do it quite well... turning into one of our favorite annual events... affording one and all to see some of the latest LSA and other sport aircraft as well as conduct a LOT of demo rides and one-on-one conversations about the planes and products on display. With MOSAIC finally in the rear view mirror, a number of promising LSA and Sport Aviation projects are starting to emerge out of the darkness. one of the more interesting is the Vickers wave,

Las Vegas Airports Director Is Board Vice Chair Of World Fuel’s Air Elite Network

The Clark County Board of Commissioners agreed to delay a fee increase by its Department of Aviation to review questions about whether Ben Czyzewski, Managing Director of General Aviation Airports, is subject to conflict of interest due to his position as the volunteer Vice Chair of the Board of World Fuel’s Air Elite Network.

First North American Location And Initial Production Operation

H55, developer of certified electric propulsion for aviation, opened its new production site and engineering offices in Longueuil in the aerospace innovation zone of Quebec. The new factory is manufacturing battery packs for its aircraft and deliveries are anticipated to begin in 2027.