Boom Supersonic’s first supersonic flight with the XB-1, the Jeju Air crash in Korea, final NTSB report on United Airlines hard landing, and a hydrogen-steam hybrid cycle engine for single aisle aircraft. Also, small DJI drones, the upcoming FlightSimExpo, personal flying devices, SAF for supersonic aircraft, a mid-air collision final report, and a waterbomber damaged by a drone.

Aviation News

Boom Supersonic XB-1 first supersonic test flight

The first supersonic flight of the XB-1 demonstrator occurred January 28, 2025. The Boom XB-1 is the first independently developed supersonic jet, and the first civil supersonic jet built in America. The XB-1 first flew in March of 2024 and has been through a rigorous program of 11 test flights at steadily increasing speeds.

Video: XB-1 First Supersonic Flight

The Starlink Connection: XB-1 Flight Tests Harness Satellite Internet Streaming

The XB-1 team used a Starlink Mini to live stream XB-1 flight tests from the Northrop T-38 chase plane. Boom worked with SpaceX to pair the Mini with an aviation data plan. The Mini fits into the T-38’s rear cockpit, allows for an occupant of that seat, and does not impede the safe operation of the aircraft or the ejection seat.

Korean Airport Exec Dead Of Suicide After Jeju Air Crash

The executive was president of the Korea Airports Corporation from 2018 to 2022 and in charge of the 2020 renovation of Muan International Airport in South Korea. He was found dead at his home of an apparent suicide. Last December, a Jeju Air Boeing 737 ran off the runway and into a concrete support surrounding the localizer antenna, killing 179 of the 181 on board. South Korea has mandated the removal of concrete barriers at seven airports.

NTSB Faults United Airlines Pilot For Hard Boeing 767-300ER Landing That Cracked Fuselage

United Airlines flight 702, a Boeing 767-300ER (registered N641UA) flying from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Texas, experienced a hard landing. The First Officer had control of the plane as the mains touched down but the nosewheel hit hard and bounced a total of three times. The fuselage skin was buckled and fractured, and the underlying stringers and frames were damaged. The aircraft was repaired and eventually returned to operational service.

In its report [PDF], the NTSB found that the FO made nose-down inputs, contributing to the nosewheel abnormally impacting the runway, and were contrary to United Airlines’ procedures and training. In addition, the NTSB believes that deployment of the speed brakes and thrust reversers while the nosewheel was still in the air likely contributed to the second runway contact of the nosewheel and the subsequent damage to the airplane.

Simple Flying Video: NTSB: United Airlines Pilot At Fault For Boeing 767 Hard Landing That Cracked Fuselage

Pratt & Whitney Unveils Details Of Hydrogen-Steam Hybrid Engine Cycle

Pratt & Whitney has unveiled details of their Hydrogen Steam Injected Intercooled Turbine Engine (HySIITE) concept. Although much more work remains to be done, the concept could lead to commercial geared turbofans with zero carbon emissions and vastly reduced nitrogen oxides (NOx).

Cutaway image of the HySIITE engine concept, courtesy Pratt & Whitney. — Image courtesy of Pratt & Whitney

Neil Terwilliger, technical fellow for advanced concepts at Pratt, said “HySIITE is about us imagining if there were going to be hydrogen and that it was a viable decarbonization pathway, what kind of engine would take the best advantage of it? Should it look like engines do today, or should we do something different?” The steam injection increases mass flow, improves efficiency, and—Pratt says—dramatically lowers NOx emissions.

Pratt & Whitney Hydrogen Steam and Inter-Cooled Turbine Engine (HySITE)

HySIITE was studied under a two-year $3.8 million U.S. Energy Department Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E) project that concluded in December 2024. HySIITE innovation could disrupt the aviation industry and represents an opportunity to preserve U.S. primacy in commercial aviation with novel fuels. The HySIITE concept aims to eliminate carbon emissions associated with aviation, make flying more efficient and significantly reduce NOx inflight emissions for commercial single-aisle aircraft. HySIITE could save the U.S. single aisle fleet an estimated $90B annually relative to SAF.

Cat mistakenly left on plane, makes three trips between New Zealand and Australia in 24 hours

A Maine Coon cat named Mittens traveled freight on Air New Zealand as her family flew from Christchurch, New Zealand to Melbourne, Australia. After arriving and waiting three hours, Mittens didn’t show up. That was because Mittens was still in the cargo hold, on the way back to New Zealand, a 7.5-hour flight. Back in New Zealand, the pet moving company met Mittens and made sure she was on a flight to Melbourne where she was reunited with her family.