Podcast
Airplane Geeks Podcast
Hosted by Airplane Geeks · EN
Our aim to educate and inform you, explore and develop your passion for aviation, and entertain you a little along the way.
30episodes
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903 oneworld Alliance
5d ago01:42:23Tap to summarizeWe speak with a oneworld Alliance VP about airline alliances in general, and oneworld in particular. In the news: a mid-air near miss at Atlanta, NTSB and families call on Congress to act on the DCA accident recommendations, a civilian plane crash and military GPS jamming, adaptive-cycle jet engines and sixth-generation combat aircraft, and the unleaded avgas transition plan. Guest Roger Blackburn, Vice President – Commercial and Loyalty, oneworld Alliance. Roger Blackburn serves as the Vice President – Commercial and Loyalty for the oneworld Alliance. He leads the commercial team and oversees corporate revenue, events, and alliance fare products, as well as the development of oneworld’s loyalty proposition. A member of oneworld’s leadership team for the past six years, Roger has led several key alliance initiatives, including the creation of oneworld’s first two branded lounges. In our conversation with Roger, we learn about the value that airline alliances provide to the member airlines, and what value accrues to the flying public. We look at criteria for membership in an alliance, network fit, commercial value, and alliance governance, as well as loyalty programs and lounges. For reference, here are the three major global airline alliances: Star Alliance, founded in 1997 by Air Canada, Lufthansa, SAS, Thai Airways, and United. oneworld, founded in 1999 by American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas. SkyTeam, founded in 2000 by Delta, Air France, Aeroméxico, and Korean Air. Aviation News Two Delta Air Lines Jets in Mid-Air Near Miss at Atlanta Hartsfield as Air Traffic Control Direct Departing Aircraft into Path of Other Plane This was a mid-air near-miss at ATL with two Delta Air Lines flights: Flight DL-1568 from Pittsburgh to Atlanta operated by a Boeing 737-900, and Flight DL-2472 from Atlanta to Rochester, New York, an Airbus A321. The airport was experiencing weather delays, and controllers were working at full capacity to clear the backlog. Departures and arrivals were taking place on parallel runways. DL-1568 had been scheduled to land three hours earlier and was diverted to Chattanooga to wait out a storm. The arriving flight 1568 elected to make a go-around after seeing a Frontier flight taking a long time to clear the runway. At the same time, departing flight 2472 was directed to turn and climb to the same altitude as the other Delta flight. A TCAS Resolution Advisory alarm sounded, and the aircraft came within 1,800 feet of each other. NTSB Chair, Victim’s Families Call Upon Congress toTake Action on 50 Safety Recommendations After DC midair It’s been a year and a half since American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided near DCA, killing 67 people. Six months ago, the NTSB issued safety recommendations. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy and families of the victims want Congress to take action on the 50 open recommendations. So far, Congress has failed to pass either the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act or the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (ALERT) Act. Statement from NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy on the open recommendations for the investigation of the January 2025 midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport In part: “Six months ago, we concluded our investigation and adopted our final report, issuing 75 findings and 50 safety recommendations, all of which must be implemented to prevent reoccurrence, yet we are no closer today to addressing many of the serious safety gaps that contributed to this terrible tragedy. “Every day that passes without implementation of all 50 NTSB recommendations represents a continued and unacceptable risk to public safety. “The National Transportation Safety Board provided a clear roadmap to improve aviation safety and reduce the risk of another catastrophic midair collision. Now it’s time for action that was promised months ago; we owe it to the victims, to the families who continue to grieve their loss, and to the millions of people who rely on the safety of our aviation system every day.” A Civilian Plane Crashed in New Mexico. Was Military GPS Jamming To Blame? On May 14, 2026, a Trans Aero MedEvac Beechcraft King Air 90 crashed in the New Mexico Capitan Mountains, killing four people. The NTSB’s preliminary report [PDF] stated that routine military GPS jamming exercises from White Sands Missile Range were active at the flight’s altitude and location. ADS-B was also degraded. The crew’s ForeFlight pre-flight package briefed the pilots on the jamming threat. Air Force eyes next-gen engine ‘integration’ by 2030 Although no decision has been made, the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) system could go into the F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) platform. Both Pratt & Whitney and GE Aerospace are developing NGAP prototypes which the Air Force intends to compete for future production. NGAP is designed to be platform agnostic and is a multi-billion-dollar program using adaptive-cycle jet engines for sixth-generation combat aircraft that change jet engine characteristics in flight, allowing more fuel-efficient cruising or increased thrust. GE Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney (RTX) are the two competitors, building prototypes designated GE’s XA102 and P&W’s XA103. As of late July 2026, the program completed a pre-prototyping readiness review, with both contractors having met the Air Force’s design requirements, clearing the way to begin building and testing hardware. ‘Final’ Unleaded Avgas Transition Plan Released The so-called “Version 1.0” of the 72-page FAA transition plan was released, updating a draft plan released earlier this year. The FAA says it’s keeping the 2030 target date for replacing 100LL with unleaded fuel. Unleaded fuel takes center stage at AirVenture The FAA took some of the comments received to heart, including communication and transparency. AOPA reports, “the FAA plans to release new versions of the transition plan after each phase. The agency also plans to publish two additional documents soon: an FAQ on unleaded fuel and a summary of the input received during the public comment period in early 2026.” Four transition phases make up the plan: Authorizing fuels and doing comparison testing.</...
Transcribe →902 Volunteer Pilots and ANR Headsets
2w ago00:54:50Tap to summarizeVolunteer pilot groups delivering service through aviation, and the origins of ANR headsets. Guests Hillel Glazer represented Airplane Geeks at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 and recorded conversations with a number of people. In this episode, we have two of his interviews. Mark Hanson, President of the Air Care Alliance, Mark Hanson is the President of the Air Care Alliance, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public service organization that represents a nationwide network of volunteer pilot groups that deliver service through aviation. Mark became a pilot in 2009 and is a nationally recognized advocate for general aviation’s role in all types of public benefit flying. He has served on the Air Care Alliance Board of Directors since 2020, most recently as President. He is a seasoned FAA Safety Team Lead Safety Representative who runs a national monthly FAA Safety webinar series, an accomplished aviator, and a longtime advocate for charitable aviation. He has flown more than 500 volunteer missions supporting children, veterans, patients, and wildlife for organizations such as Angel Flight, Veterans Airlift Command, Sky Hope, Turtles Fly Too, STEM Flights, and others. Dan Gauger, a Distinguished Engineer (retired) at Bose Corporation, worked on the headsets for the Burt Rutan-designed high-altitude composite ultralightweight aircraft Voyager. In 1986, Bose engineers approached the Voyager team with two ANR headset prototypes just before their record-breaking flight around the world. The pilots were risking the loss of 20% of their hearing. They agreed to try the prototypes. Three years later, the first ANR aviation headset was available to all pilots. Working on the ANR headset at the bench. The ANR headset. Hosts this Episode Max Flight and Hillel Glazer.
Transcribe →901 Marine One
4w ago01:16:22Tap to summarizeNew Sikorsky Marine One helicopters damage the White House lawn, the airports renamed for U.S. presidents, airline consolidation, DCA crash safety recommendations, controversy over ADS-B In regulations, Air France and Airbus manslaughter verdict, passengers sue Delta over turbulence injuries, a Ryanair window ruptures, and a seaplane makes a hard landing in New York’s East River. Also, interviews from the Spurwink Farm fly-in. Aviation News Lockheed Martin Is Covering the Cost of Trump’s White House Helipad President Trump said that Sikorsky, part of Lockheed Martin, would cover the cost of building a new helipad at the White House. Lockheed Martin confirmed the report. Sikorsky helicopters have been used to transport the president since the 1970s.  The new VH-92A Patriot helicopter has propulsion exhaust vents located toward the rear of the airframe and pointed downward, unlike the VH-3D’s configuration. Also, with much more powerful engines, the VH-92A generates significantly more downwash than the VH-3D. The hot exhaust gets combined with the intense rotor downwash at touchdown, and the combined heat-and-airflow effect scorches the turf and can physically rip sod loose. Airline consolidation now rules the skies. Has it been good for passengers? Continental Airlines, Northwest Airlines, and US Airways are gone. Spirit Airlines is gone as well. Now, the Big Four U.S. airlines control roughly three-quarters of the U.S. market. Has this been good for the flying public? It depends on who you ask. Former governor Chris Sununu, now the head of Airlines for America, said at a Capitol Hill hearing, “We have more competition per route than ever before. When I go to buy a ticket, I have four, five, or six carriers going from Wichita to Dallas. So now they’re all competing on that exact same route.” There are six airlines serving Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, but there’s only one that flies nonstop to Dallas. Past guest Ganesh Sitaraman, a professor at Vanderbilt Law School and the author of the book Why Flying Is Miserable and How to Fix It said, “From the airlines’ perspective, it makes sense. Bigger is better, and it’ll be more efficient for them, even if there’s a lot of drawbacks for communities and passengers.” A Florida airport is officially renamed for Trump. What does he stand to gain? FAA Details First Official Response to DC Crash Safety Recommendations After the January 2025 midair collision near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people, the NTSB issued nearly three dozen recommendations. As is always the case, the FAA is not obligated to implement the NTSB’s recommendations. Earlier this year, the FAA said it had fully addressed seven of the recommendations and that it would evaluate the others, with further updates to come by May 31, 2027. The Air Current reported that the FAA indicated it is evaluating whether the number of arrivals permitted per hour at DCA is appropriate. This is a key metric that the NTSB said contributed to the airport’s congestion at the time of the crash. Also, any adjustments will be determined after an official analysis in 2027. This $50,000 Safety Fix Is Dividing the Aviation Industry and Washington This could be characterized as a conference-committee fight over how strong an ADS-B In mandate should be, not whether there will be one. ALPA and NTSB are on one side (ROTOR Act), and industry groups like A4A/AOPA/NBAA on the other (ALERT) side.  Senate: ROTOR Act (Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform Act) Would require all aircraft to be equipped with ADS-B In and repeal certain military exemptions from the technology requirements. Passed the Senate by unanimous consent in December, with strong support, including from ALPA. The House rejected it on February 24, 2026, falling one vote short of the two-thirds majority needed after the Defense Department raised national security concerns House: ALERT Act (Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency Act) House lawmakers revised the bill to explicitly include an ADS-B In mandate after the earlier version was criticized for failing to clearly require it. The updated version requires that aircraft carry both ADS-B In and ACAS X (Airborne Collision Avoidance System X), integrated so ADS-B In data feeds the alerting function. Opposition: ALPA doesn’t endorse it, arguing that ACAS Xa (the large-commercial-aircraft variant) isn’t yet commercialized, that no integration standards exist, and that the system suppresses alerts below 1,000 feet when situational awareness matters most. The NTSB also declined to support it, saying it falls short of requiring ADS-B In for all aircraft operating in airspace where ADS-B Out is already required, even though it allows compliance via portable receivers with line-of-sight limitations. Air France and Airbus found guilty of manslaughter over 2009 plane crash A Paris Appeals Court found Air France and Airbus “solely and entirely responsible” for the 2009 AF447 accident, which killed 228 people when it crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. The companies were cleared in April 2023 but were found guilty after an eight-week trial. Both Air France and Airbus have denied the charges and say they will appeal. In 2012, French investigators found a combination of technical failure involving ice in the pitot tubes and pilot confusion over faulty air-speed readings. Pilot training has since been modified, and pitot tube sensors have been replaced. 20 Sue Delta Over 2.5 Minutes of Terror on Flight Out of Utah A lawsuit has been filed against Delta Air Lines on behalf of 20 passengers of Delta Flight 56, claiming that pilots “recklessly flew” too close to thunderstorms, where severe turbulence caused multiple injuries. The turbulence lasted 2 1/2 minutes over Wyoming, and the flight was diverted to Minnesota. Twenty-five people were transported to local hospitals. The NTSB said the pilots were caught by surprise. In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs allege that the National Weather Service issued an advisory warning that turbulent conditions were present in the mountains east of Salt Lake City and that thunderstorms were present along portions of the flight path. Apparent engine fan blade failure preceded rupture of Ryanair 737 window The Air Current reports that the rupture of a Ryanair Boeing 737-800 window resulted from a fan blade failure on the right CFM56-7B engine. Fan blade failures are serious but rare. Aircraft engines are designed to contain fan blade failures and are tested during the certification process.  The FAA issued airworthiness directives to mitigate the risk of fan blade failure through inspections and an engine inlet redesign to ensure containment. The F...
Transcribe →900 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 Preview
Jul 802:11:15Tap to summarizeWhat to expect at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 and an interview with the Manager of Onsite Learning at the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum. Also, how L3Harris converted the Qatari-gifted 747 into Air Force One, the Cirrus TRAC10, window seat lawsuits, a rule change to allow supersonic flight over the United States, and an update on Boom Supersonic’s strategy for its self-developed Symphony engine. Image by Linda and Lily. Guest Dick Knapinski is Director of Communications for the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). He has served in that capacity since 2010 and has been with the organization since 1992. Dick serves as the liaison between the media and EAA throughout the year, particularly during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, the world’s largest fly-in convention. The event runs July 20-26, 2026. Dick Knapinski Boeing Plaza will be packed with aircraft to celebrate the aviation technology theme. Currently planned innovation displays for July 21 include BETA Technologies, Bye Aerospace, Jetson, American Drone, MagniX, Zipline, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Airhart Aeronautics, Merlin Labs, Amazon Delivery, and Starlight Productions. In addition to the displays on Boeing Plaza, Bye Aerospace, Jetson, BETA Technologies, American Drone, and ScaleWings plan to fly during the afternoon air show. Drone delivery company Wing will display the latest developments in its operations at Twilight Flight Fest. Learn more about the AirVenture Airshows and performers, Aircraft Anniversaries & Gatherings, Authors Corner, AviationTech, KidVenture, and the Fly-In Theater. Rare warbird static/flying displays will include the B-29 “Doc,” as well as a rare Consolidated PB4Y and the CAF’s B-24 Liberator on static display at Boeing Plaza. Vicky Benzing will fly her P-51 “Plum Crazy,” and Bernie Vasquez will demo a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt in afternoon shows. The Aviation Gateway Park will spotlight helicopters, advanced vertical lift platforms, and eVTOL aircraft through static displays and interactive exhibits. Before joining EAA, Dick built a broadcasting career in Wisconsin, including stints as Program Director at WNBI Radio, News Director at WMGV Radio, and Station Manager at WLFM-FM/Wisconsin Public Radio. He also spent years as a sportswriter for the Appleton Post-Crescent. Dick holds a private pilot certificate and remains active as a writer and spokesperson for EAA. Aviation News How was the new Air Force One prepared for flight? The two permanent VC-25 replacements were selected in 2015, and the $3.9 billion fixed-price contract was signed in February 2018. Boeing began physical refurbishment work in February 2020 on two 747-8I airframes originally built for the bankrupt Russian carrier Transaero. Boeing has already reported $2.5 billion in losses on the program. The current delivery target for the first jet is between 2027 and 2028, with the second jet to follow later. The ex-Qatari 747-8 “bridge” aircraft was gifted to the U.S. Air Force in May 2025 and entered service on July 1, 2026. L3Harris did the conversion in about 10 months. The quick conversion was accomplished due to several factors: Pre-staged employees operated on a 24/7, three-shift structure. (Boeing has worked a normal single-shift industrial pace, with no incentive to surge, staff once costs started ballooning.) The bridge aircraft came with a luxury interior. (Boeing’s jets had incomplete interiors – basically shells.) Missing VC-25 elements. Reports (unconfirmed by the government) include no evidence of defensive countermeasures and a lack of EMP hardening. L3Harris didn’t out-engineer Boeing. They ran a 24/7 surge crew on a plane that already had a finished VIP interior, targeted a much narrower requirement (“executive airlift” vs. full presidential command-post survivability), and the government has not been forthcoming about which hardened-aircraft features (EMP shielding, missile countermeasures, full secure comms suite) were omitted. See also: Trump wants the $400M Qatari-gifted new Air Force One to be the centerpiece of his presidential library. But there’s a problem. Cirrus launches TRAC10, a new light aircraft for the flight training market Purpose-designed for flight schools and to be powered by a turbocharged Rotax 916 iSc FADEC engine, the plane has a three-seat interior, a Garmin flight deck, and the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System. Cirrus says they have 100 orders from 13 flight schools. United Airlines must face lawsuit over ‘window seats’ that lack windows Not every “window seat” has a window. Sometimes it has a wall. That...
Transcribe →899 PWM Airport Director
Jul 101:41:51Tap to summarizeAn airport director discusses air service and passenger growth, airport expansion, ATC impacts, and the implementation of a new RNP approach. In the news: DCA changes may increase the likelihood of helicopter-on-helicopter collisions, Collaborative Combat Aircraft airframers are selected while mission autonomy software is decoupled, Canada and the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), harmonizing FAA and EASA certification rules, and another runway near-miss. Guest Paul Bradbury is the Airport Director at the Portland Jetport in Maine. We look at Air service and passenger statistics, and Paul announces the Jetport’s first seasonal transcontinental service with United to San Francisco and Los Angeles. He explains the opportunities small hub airports can realize through continued upgauging of aircraft. Paul notes that passengers have been willing to pay higher fares due to increased fuel prices.    See: United Airlines Launches Nonstop Flights from SFO and LAX to Portland Maine. To address parking capacity issues, Paul is now wrapping up the design and permitting for the revised $8.6 million surface parking plan, which the Portland City Council approved in April. This has been a lengthy process, and opposition from some area residents had to be resolved. See: Portland approves $10 million Jetport parking expansion. Paul also tells us about the challenges of Air Traffic Control capacity issues and the FAA’s capping of flights. We also learn about how the Jetport worked with Flight Tech Engineering to implement a new RNP approach to PWM that keeps flights over water. This approach was published on April 16, 2026, but is just now available for assignment by PWM ATC. Aviation News Helicopter collision risk higher after D.C. airspace changes, Coast Guard leaders say Following the January 2025 midair collision, the FAA made changes to the congested airspace around Washington, D.C. But in a public Transportation Research Board (TRB) meeting, U.S. Coast Guard representatives criticized the FAA, saying the revisions may increase the risk of a serious accident between helicopters. The Air Current reports that USCG pilots suggested that “the FAA did not adequately weigh the risks of a helicopter-on-helicopter collision when moving to eliminate helicopter routes and change airspace procedures to protect against close calls between rotorcraft and fixed-wing aircraft.”  The changes put helicopters closer together and made it harder for crews to train for proficiency. The pilots said there was an increased risk of helicopter controlled flight into terrain. In a written statement, FAA assistant administrator for communications Hannah Walden said, “Claims that these changes increased the risk of helicopter-to-helicopter collisions are not supported by the data.” She added that the FAA’s actions were guided by the National Transportation Safety Board’s emergency recommendations following the 2025 crash. The Transportation Research Board is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The Board seeks “to anticipate and solve complex transportation-related challenges.” This is accomplished through more than 5,500 engineers, scientists, and other transportation researchers and practitioners from the public and private sectors and academia. The program is supported by state departments of transportation, federal agencies, and other organizations and individuals. Air Force picks General Atomics, Anduril to build first CCA drone wingmen The Air Force selected General Atomics and Anduril to build the U.S. military’s first Collaborative Combat Aircraft, beating out Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman in a re-solicited competition. The Anduril FQ-44A Furry and the General Atomics FQ-42A Dark Merlin will be fielded as production aircraft. The acquisition strategy is unique in that the Air Force is pursuing a “software sold separately” approach, in which the purchase of the airframe and the CCA’s mission autonomy software are decoupled. Anduril, RTX Collins Aerospace, and Shield AI were awarded production options for the autonomy software and will compete in a six-month head-to-head round....
Transcribe →898 Heart Aerospace Hybrid-Electric Regional Aircraft
Jun 2401:25:06Tap to summarizeThe CEO of Heart Aerospace describes the development of a hybrid-electric 30-seat regional commercial aircraft. In the news, a near miss at Boston Logan between a landing Delta Air Lines flight and a departing American Airlines flight, NASA’s Advanced Aircraft Concepts for Environmental Sustainability 2050 (AACES) program, Canada’s purchase of F-35A fighters and possibly Saab Gripens, and Canada’s look at early-warning-radar planes. Guest Anders Forslund is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Heart Aerospace, formed to electrify short-haul regional aviation. Heart Aerospace is developing the ES-30, a hybrid-electric 30-seat regional commercial aircraft. Heart is currently in upstate New York, testing the X1 demonstrator aircraft, which the company says will be the largest electric aircraft ever to fly. The company is backed by Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Ventures and Y Combinator, as well as operator/investors United Airlines and Air Canada. Anders explains Heart Aerospace’s mission to lower the cost of air travel and how their clean-sheet Part 25 airliner will achieve about a 40% reduction in overall operating costs. The ES-30 will be an electric-motor-and-turboprop hybrid, while the full-scale X1 prototype is all-electric. The X1 demonstrator has completed low-speed taxi testing at the company’s X1 flight-test base at Plattsburgh International Airport in upstate New York. First flight is expected shortly, with type certification planned for 2031. Video: Heart X1 Completes Low-Speed Taxi Testing https://youtu.be/5jkyKevsJNI?si=1xreSjh_gRcI6xu2 Anders tells us about the Heart team and how aerospace development has changed in the last decade. The company strives to manage uncertainty rather than minimize it, holds itself accountable, and sets falsifiable goals. Before starting Heart, Anders was an aerospace researcher at Chalmers, where he was a driving force behind the Elise-Electric Aviation research project in Sweden, funded by the Swedish innovation agency Vinnova. He spent 2013-2014 at MIT, where his work on geometric variation of aerospace components was awarded the Charles M. Manly Memorial Medal. He is also a founding member of the Nordic Network for Electric Aviation. Anders has a Ph.D. in Aerospace Product Development and a B.Sc. in Engineering Physics from Chalmers. He has a dual M.Sc. in Astronautics and Space Engineering from Cranfield University and Luleå University, as part of the SpaceMaster program. He is also a member of Prince Daniel’s Fellowship for young entrepreneurs. Follow Heart Aerospace on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn. Aviation News Horrifying Near Miss at Boston Logan as Quick-Thinking Delta Air Pilots Go Around to Avoid Landing On Top of American Airlines Boeing 737 Delta Air Lines flight DL-2351, an Airbus A319 flying from Dallas, was landing at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), was cleared to land on runway 33L. Moments later, American Airlines flight AA-3161, a Boeing 737-800, was cleared to take off for Charlotte from intersecting runway 27. The pilots repeated the instruction back to the controller, and after about 40 seconds, started the takeoff. As Delta flight 2351 was about to touch down, the pilots saw the American Airlines plane and executed a go-around. That was followed by the air traffic controller asking the American flight, “American, where are you going?” Listen to the Incident Audio via @xJonNYC. Electra reveals 100-seat hybrid-electric aircraft concept Electra developed the concept under NASA’s Advanced Aircraft Concepts for Environmental Sustainability 2050 (AACES) program. NASA has commissioned industry and academia to “develop transformative aircraft designs, propulsion technologies, and sustainability solutions for commercial aviation by 2050.” Electra’s large airliner concept features a wide “double-bubble” fuselage that generates lift. Propulsion comes from two turbofans under the wings that produce thrust and electricity, as well as three fans mounted on the top of the aft fuselage. Electra says those fans would “ingest and re-energise slower-moving air over the fuselage, a technique known as boundary layer ingestion.” Other AACES participants include the Georgia Institute of Technology with the Liquefied Natural Gas Powered Athena Aircraft Concept, and JetZero with a hydrogen fueled blended wing body design. Congress Questions Air Force’s Combat Rescue Readiness As HH-60W Helicopters Get Turned Into VIP Transports The Senate Armed Services Committee filed S. 4784, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027 (NDAA), which establishes funding levels and authorities for the U.S. military. The 66th annual NDAA supports a total of $1.15 trillion in FY 2027 funding for national defense. In its report [PDF], the Committee expresses concern “about combat search and rescue (CSAR) force structure in the Air Force. In recent years, the Air Force truncated the buy of HH-60Ws and has since transferred 26 HH-60Ws from units responsible for CSAR operatio...
Transcribe →897 U.S. Aircraft Supporting NATO
Jun 1701:24:19Tap to summarizeThe U.S. plans to reduce the number of aircraft for NATO operations, another A-10 lifeline appears, and discussions about restarting C-17 production. Also, owner-produced airplane parts, airport weirdos, a new album from Speed Brake Armed, how the NTSB uses audio spectrograms, lying flat on a broken Polaris seat, and Roman Numerals. Aviation News US Plans Major Cut to Fighter Jets, Warships for NATO Operations in Europe, NYT Reports Citing European officials, the New York Times reported that the U.S. plans to reduce the number of F-16 and F-15E fighter jets from roughly 150 to 100. Maritime reconnaissance aircraft would be cut from 26 to 15, and all eight aerial refueling tankers would be pulled. The New York Times said the U.S. aims to redeploy a missile-launching submarine and an aircraft carrier, along with several warships and jets that join the carrier’s missions. One of two groups of bombers previously assigned for Europe’s defense may also be reallocated. NATO spokesperson Allison Hart told Reuters, “Historically, there has been an over-reliance on U.S. forces and capabilities.” The U.S. European Command said in a statement that it would “rightsize” its contributions to the NATO Force Model. Congress Throws A-10 Warthog Another Lifeline The A-10 end of life is scheduled for 2030. Depot-level maintenance has stopped, and the 571st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, has ended. The A-10 Weapons School is scheduled to end this year. However, an amendment to the House Armed Services Committee’s version of the National Defense Authorization bill seeks to keep the Warthog alive. The amendment calls for the Air Force to keep supporting A-10 training, testing, experimentation, maintenance, and sustainment efforts. Other requirements include preserving lessons learned and operational expertise and maintaining a formal pilot training unit. A-10 Warthog’s New Aerial Refueling Probe Is Now Operational In The Middle East The A-10C is now operating in the Middle East with the new probe-and-drogue refueling capability. First demonstrated in early April, it took only six weeks to become operational. Previously, the A-10 could only refuel from a KC-135. The KC-46 was not yet certified to refuel the Warthog due to the “stiff boom” problem, which could damage the receiving aircraft. Now A-10s can refuel KC-46s with the probe or from HC-130s, MC-130s, Marine Corps KC-130s, and KC-130Js from other operators. A-10 with refueling probe. USAF photo. Boeing “Encouraged” By C-17 Production Restart Discussions Restarting C-17 Globemaster III production would be extremely difficult, extremely expensive, but not impossible. There is interest from various operators and from the U.S. Congress, which has asked the Air Force to prepare a formal briefing on the feasibility of acquiring new C-17s. Driving USAF interest is a succession of crises in recent years that have put serious strain on the aircraft, and questions have been raised about the viability of the current plan to keep them flying through 2075. The C-17 is powered by the F117-PW-100, which is the military variant of the PW2000 family (the same engine that powers the Boeing 757). New engine production for the PW2000 stopped in 2016, and the USAF is currently depending on overhauls of existing engines to keep the fleet flying. So the MRO infrastructure, engineering expertise, and supply chain for supporting this engine remain very much alive. In March 2025, RTX announced agreements with JetZero to integrate the PW2040 engine and APU into its blended-wing-body demonstrator. So P&W is actively working on the PW2040 for a new application, which suggests the engine isn’t entirely dormant in their engineering ecosystem. The decision to restart the engine isn’t just a P&W decision. The risk-sharing partners, like MTU Aero Engines, have to be on board. There are 222 C-17s in service with the U.S. Air Force today. The last plane was delivered in 2013, and Boeing shut down the line in 2015. Australia, Canada, India, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom operate the C-17. C-17. USAF photo. Listener Mail Eclipse spare parts Mark writes regarding the discussion about Eclipse parts from Episode 896 and notes that FAR 21.9(a)(5) creates a framework for owner-produced parts. Where a certified part is unavailable, owners of certified aircraft can “produce” their own. And they can do that either by making it themselves or by contracting out its production to a suitably qualified supplier. There are rules about quality and the requirement that owner-produced parts be of equivalent specification to OEM parts, but as long as an aircraft owner can put their hand on their heart and assert that those conditions are met, they can supply parts to their maintainer and tell them to install them. See this AOPA guidance. Airport Weirdo Koeby has developed a crowdsourced gallery of airport weirdos, where travelers submit funny photos of strange things they spot in airports. No account is needed; you can just submit your photo, and it will be added to the gallery. It’s called Airport Weirdo. New Album release by Speed Brake Armed Pete Buffington tells us about Speed Brake Armed’s new New Age album “Echoes Above the Infinite Sky.” This album takes the listener on a journey of flight from South America, to Spain, to the Cosmos, and back to ancient Greece. Inspired by over 35 years of real pilot experience. Video: 737 Echoes Above The Infinite Sky | Speed Brake Armed | Full Album | New Age Aviation Music https://youtu.be/slO-4xnVqHg Spectrograms Andy adds his perspective about the conversation on spectrograms in NTSB investigations. While he has absolutely no actual knowledge about NTSB processes or how they actually use spectrograms, he speculates based on his experience as an audio engineer for over 30 years: “Spectrograms have been a tool I use fairly regularly in production. To me, it mostly comes down to being able to recognize things that are hard to pick out. For instance, if there is some kind of unpleasant noise in the background of a recording, sometimes I can identify it and potentially filter it out, purely by ear.  Other times, particularly if it’s not very far above the noise floor, it can be very difficult to pick out by ear.  In that case, I’ll often l...
Transcribe →896 Sonex Aviation LLC
Jun 301:29:07Tap to summarizeOur guest purchased the assets of planemaker Sonex and restarted the company. In the news, Customs and Border Protection officers at airports, Eclipse 500 spare parts availability, a Spitfire kit plane, recreating cockpit voice recorder audio from spectrograms, and a new website to track ATC modernization progress. Guest Stephen Osborne is the owner and founder of Top Aviation Services and the president and CEO of The Osborne Company. Shortly after planemaker Sonex shut down, he purchased its assets and reopened operations as Sonex Aviation LLC. Sonex has a history of providing the recreational aviation community with innovative and affordable aircraft kits, powerplants, and accessories. The company is a leader in the homebuilt space and works to cultivate new pilots and airplane builders through educational efforts. Stephen describes how he quickly moved to purchase the Sonex assets, resume shipping kits, and set the tone for the company’s future. Sonex has a strong “work family” environment that serves not only employees but also customers and vendors. As Sonex moves forward, its success will be built on those core values and the mission to make aviation affordable for everyone. Stephen is a military veteran and former U.S. Army Captain and FAA-certificated commercial pilot. Top Aviation provides FAA-certified flight training for Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, and Commercial, as well as discovery flights and aircraft rentals at KTOP in Topeka, Kansas. The Osborne Company is a general contracting firm specializing in the design and installation of electric vehicle and aircraft charging infrastructure across the United States. Group photo of employees, courtesy Sonex. Aviation News Feds Mull Pulling Customs From New York, LA, Chicago, and Other Airports in ‘Sanctuary Cities’ Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has suggested removing Customs and Border Protection officers from airports in so-called sanctuary cities where local authorities do not assist federal immigration investigations. Those cities include New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco international hubs. In a recent congressional hearing, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, “We shouldn’t shut down air travel in a state that doesn’t agree with our politics.” Airlines and business groups warn of chaos if US restricts international flights In a joint statement, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Airlines for America, the National Retail Federation, U.S. Travel, and other groups said the move “threatens to cause unnecessary chaos throughout the nation’s air transportation system.” “Any reduction in Customs and Border Protection operations at major U.S. gateway airports threatens to cause unnecessary chaos throughout the nation’s air transportation system. International aviation networks are highly interconnected, and operational changes at a small number of gateway airports will quickly ripple across the country, negatively impacting travelers, cargo shipments, supply chains, and the communities that depend on those connections. Airports and airlines rely on stable, predictable federal inspection services to keep people and commerce moving safely and efficiently. We urge DHS to avoid actions that would create unnecessary operational and economic consequences for communities nationwide. As the United States prepares for growing international travel demand, DHS should avoid actions that would create unnecessary bottlenecks and economic consequences for communities across the country. Now is the time to strengthen America’s gateway infrastructure, not weaken it.” See also, Airlines urge Trump administration not to curb international flights in feud over ‘sanctuary cities’ Eclipse Aero Says It Has about 3 Years of Parts in Stock Eclipse supplier Resurgent Aviation Solutions (RAS) says on its webpage that the company “has elected to wind down all business operations and liquidate all remaining assets. All finished goods will be made available for outright purchase using an auction format. The liquidation will be completed over several auctions over the next two months.” Spitfire could return to production 90 years after first flight An original Supermarine Spitfire will set you back about £3 million. The new Aerolite Spitfire Type 433 has been constructed at a cost of about £750,000. The composite kit plane is touring the UK this spring and summer at air shows and military and classic motor festivals. Great British Supermarine Ltd, is the manufacturer. Chief executive Jeremy Meeson, said: “The moment is right to reimagine the Supermarine Spitfire because today’s materials, propulsion, and digital engineering finally let us evolve an icon without losing what made it exceptional.” A PDF let the internet hear the final words in the cockpit of a UPS plane as it crashed. The NTSB now wants it taken down The NTSB does not release cockpit voice recordings made during an accident. Other evidence from investigations is released to the public, including photographs, videos, maps, and other data. During a two-day investigative hearing on the UPS flight 2976 accident, a PDF file was released that showed an analysis of the spectrogram of the audio recorded by the CVR. However, the NTSB was not aware “that advances in image recognition and computational methods have enabled individuals to reconstruct approximations of cockpit voice recorder audio from sound spectrum imagery.” Subsequently, the NTSB closed public access to all dockets. Spectrogram of the spoken words in a clip from Airplane Geeks Episode 895. Frequencies are on the vertical axis, and time is on the horizontal axis. <a href...
Transcribe →895 Points Path
May 2700:49:47Tap to summarizeWe speak with the founder and CEO of Points Path, which helps travelers get the most up-to-date pricing from both Google and airlines. Guest Julian Kheel is the founder and CEO of Points Path, a browser extension that helps you make informed travel purchases. Points Path performs the same flight search with Google Flights for each of its covered airlines, but requests prices in points or miles rather than cash. The results are then combined with Google’s results, so you see the most up-to-date pricing available from both Google and the airlines themselves. In the free extension, Points Path offers award pricing for the frequent flyer programs of Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, and United. Paid Pro tier and Founders Club members also get access to Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air France/KLM, Avianca, Emirates, Etihad, Qantas, Qatar, TAP Air Portugal, Virgin Atlantic, and Virgin Australia. All tiers include domestic and international flights on the airlines themselves, as well as flights with partner airlines. The free version of the Points Path extension includes real-time, true round-trip points pricing for US domestic airline programs, as well as bank transfer programs for those airlines, indicators when a transfer bonus is in effect, and deal recommendation arrows. Points Path Pro is a paid upgrade that adds more airlines, price-tracking alerts, a 7-day points calendar, and other features. Julian has extensive industry knowledge. He was previously Editorial Director of The Points Guy, as well as CNN’s Senior Editor covering travel and credit card rewards, and also worked as a consultant for the “Big 3” airlines. He has appeared on CNBC’s Squawk Box, Bloomberg Surveillance, and other TV programs to discuss frequent-flyer miles and has been quoted on travel rewards in The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and many other national publications. Julian was kind enough to offer Airplane Geeks listeners a discount code for the Pro version. Use airplanegeeks15 at checkout. Hosts this Episode Max Flight, Brian Coleman, and our Main(e) Man Micah.
Transcribe →894 E/A-18G Growler
May 2001:32:10Tap to summarizeU.S. Navy E/A-18G Growler jet collision, Boeing’s China order, the new target for air traffic controller staffing, new United flight attendant contract, domestic flight lengths, Boeing civil suit award, and a tribute to a flight instructor. Aviation News Growlers Collide at Air Show, Four Good Chutes Two U.S. Navy E/A-18G Growler jets collided midair during the Gunfighter Skies Air Show at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. All four Washington-based pilots ejected. The jets exploded upon impact with the ground. The Gunfighter Skies Air Show (May 16-17, 2026) was a free event open to the public and featuring the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. The Growler is a variant of the Super Hornet with advanced sensors and jamming pods. The VAQ-129 “Vikings” EA-18G Growler Demo Team showcases the platform for tactical jamming and electronic attack. Video: Deep Intel on the Growler Midair at Idaho Airshow https://youtu.be/eR6yXoyaarY?si=o_ZO4iqfplgNIfNG Boeing China Order Disappoints, Stock Falls Last week, we reported that Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg was joining President Trump on his visit to China. There was anticipation for a 500-airplane deal, but it appears the negotiation resulted in a 200-airplane purchase. No other details were available at the time. FAA cuts target for air traffic control staffing The FAA has a new target for air traffic control staffing: 12,563 certified controllers. The previous target was 14,633 controllers. That’s a reduction of 2,070 controllers, or 14%. Controller overtime costs have gone up more than 300% since 2013, according to a National Academies of Sciences report. Air traffic is up, but time spent on position managing air traffic has gone down. The FAA said, “Deploying modern staffing models and scheduling tools will improve controller staffing efficiency and reduce the need for excessive overtime.” The FAA said about 11,000 certified controllers are deployed, 4,000 are in training, including 1,000 who were previously fully certified and are training at new air traffic control facilities. United Flight Attendants Ratify Contract — Top Pay Will Exceed $100/Hour, $740M Lump Sum Payout United Airlines flight attendants ratified the tentative agreement that was reached in March. Almost 89% of eligible union members voted, and of those who did, 82% approved the contract. Flight attendants get their first raise in 5.5 years, almost 20% over the life of the contract. Short flights are popular. Will they last? There are many more scheduled short domestic flights in the U.S. than long ones, but over the past 10 years, the number of flights of 500 miles or less has decreased, while the number of longer flights has increased.  Jury awards $49.5M to family of Boeing 737 MAX crash victim Samya Stumo was a 24-year-old who was killed in the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, in 2019. Like other victims’ families, Stumo’s family brought a civil suit against Boeing. Most of those other suits were settled out of court. Stumo’s family did not reach a settlement, and the case went to trial focusing on compensation. Boeing had previously admitted liability. A federal jury in Chicago awarded $21 million for Stumo’s death, $16.5 million for the family’s loss of companionship, and $12 million for the family’s grief. 4 killed in medical plane crash in Capitan Mountains identified The Australia News Desk Steve Visscher’s tribute to Gary Bittle, his flight instructor and friend. Gary Bittle and Steve Visscher Mentioned FIFI, taken from the backseat of Gunfighter, a P-51 Mustang, by listener Chris. Hosts this Episode Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, Rob Mark, and Erin Applebaum.
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