"Fred was more than just the pioneer of an industry and the founder of our great company. He was the heart and soul of FedEx – its PSP culture, values, integrity, and spirit.” Source: From a message from FedEx company CEO Raj Subramaniam, on the passing of their founder, Fred Smith.

US Enters the Conflict With 30,000-Pound Bunker Busters

A team of US Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bombers was responsible for a three-target airstrike in Iran on June 21. The strikes, which hit several nuclear sites, marked the US’s first direct military involvement in the growing Iran-Israel conflict.

Preliminary Explanation For RUD

Elon Musk and SpaceX posted on the SpaceX website immediately after Starship Ship 36 experienced a catastrophic explosion and subsequent Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly as fuel was being loaded for a static firing test of Ship’s engines.

FIFI Set to Return to the Skies for the Mansfield, Ohio Show in July

The Commemorative Air Force’s iconic B-29 Superfortress is getting ready to fly after spending more than a month grounded for intensive engine repairs. The bomber, FIFI, is set to return to the skies in time for the July 9-13 show in Mansfield, Ohio.

Golfier Balloons G32-13000 Crashed Near Praia Grande, Killing 8 and Injuring 13

At least eight of 21 occupants were killed when a Golfier Balloons G32-13000 caught fire and crashed in southern Brazil on June 21. The hot air balloon tourism company involved has since indefinitely suspended all operations.

Pilots Were Unable to Contact Denver Air Traffic Controllers for Several Minutes

On May 12, pilots flying into Denver International Airport briefly experienced every aviator’s least favorite scenario: radio silence from air traffic control. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the 90-second communications failure was caused by “overlapping outages to radio transmitters and circuits” at the Denver ARTCC in Longmont, Colorado.

Vietnam Airlines’ MoU Adds to Airbus’s Paris Air Show Customer List

Vietnamese carrier Vietjet recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus for a 100-aircraft order, plus an option for 50 more later on. The new A321neo jets will add to the airline’s current fleet of more than 100 Airbus aircraft.

16 Will Operate Under a Multi-Year Delta Contract, Replacing Aging Aircraft

On June 18, Embraer and SkyWest announced a deal for 60 new E175 regional jets with the option to purchase 50 more. The first 16 aircraft in the set will operate under a running contract with Delta Air Lines, moving into service as early as 2027.

NPS Aviation Extending To EPA Ecosystem Assessment Project

The National Park Service is extending its expertise in aviation beyond its normal role in firefighting to partner with the Environmental Protection Agency on a complex and heavily aviation-dependent project known as the Everglades Ecosystem Assessment Program, or EEAP.

Also: Aviation Mental Health Bill, JetZero Taps NC, Radia Windrunner Avionics, Iowa Lakes Aviation Program

The Vertical Flight Society announced that dozens of the world’s electric aircraft developers and tech experts will be presenting at the 19th Annual Electric Aircraft Symposium (EAS) in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on July 19-20, 2025, just prior to the EAA AirVenture. More than 35 experts will participate in this year’s EAS in 12 in-depth moderated discussions that will cover the full range of topics across the entire advanced air mobility – AAM – Industry. The FAA’s MedXpress website has been updated to assist pilots getting ready for the next visit with their AME, or aviation medical examiner, to renew their medical certificate. A comprehensive “Know Before You Go” document walks applicants through the steps necessary to prepare for the AME exam. This includes gathering medical records that must be submitted