Tag Archives: Marine One

907 Airshow Photography

Guest

Logan Lynch is a lifelong avgeek who loves photographing aircraft. He’s attended AirVenture since 2018, where he can usually be found on the flight line with a camera glued to his face. Be sure to look through Logan’s 2026 EAA Airventure photo gallery for a sample of his work. As we talk about airshow photography, we learn that Logan owns very little photo gear and prefers to rent long zoom lenses from Lensrentals.com. We talk about good focal lengths, using a monopod (especially for fast jets), and a tripod for night shows.

Logan spends the entire day shooting at a show, and he explains the accessories he carries, like lots of batteries, memory cards, and a cleaning kit. We talk about shooting RAW vs. JPG and editing images in Lightroom. Logan addresses the challenge of getting the right amount of prop blur and the importance of panning. We also explore tips for shooters who might only have the camera in their phone.

The Skip Stewart PITTS S-2S flying low over the runway. — An example of prop blur and panning on the Skip Stewart `PITTS S-2S`.

Logan is a part owner of a 1966 Cessna 150F nicknamed Graham Cracker, and also a full-time UAV Operator and LDAR Technician for a major oil and gas producer out of North Dakota. He started Lynch Drone Photography in 2021 as an idea to generate a little extra income, but plans to expand it. Logan earned a Bachelor’s in Aviation Management from Utah Valley University and serves as board treasurer for his local airport.

The F-22 Raptor in flight. — The F-22 Raptor.

Plane with fireworks at the AirVenture night airshow. — The night show at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024.

Aviation News

After Eight Years as President and CEO, Ron Draper Announces Retirement; Brian Rohloff to Lead Textron Aviation Forward

Effective August 31, 2026, Ron Draper retired as president and CEO of Textron, with Brian Rohloff replacing him. Rohloff most recently served as senior vice president of Customer Support, overseeing global customer support operations, including service center capacity, parts availability, and AOG (aircraft-on-ground) response.

Rohloff joined Cessna Aircraft Co. in 2009 as a production manager, and held positions including vice president of quality, vice president of sales, senior product director for the Citation XLS and Citation X lines, and director of paint operations.

FAA seeks to fire two controllers who left early before fatal Air Canada crash

On March 22, 2026, an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 collided with a fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, killing both pilots. That night, two controllers left about an hour before the end of their shift, leaving two controllers to cover the tower. They remained recorded as working, in a practice known as “early shove.” ABC News reported that the two departing controllers were not needed to provide the normal minimum staffing for that time of night.

The FAA has not said that the absence of the two controllers contributed to the accident. NATCA said it was discussing the allegations with FAA management. The NTSB has not determined the probable cause of the accident.

New tech at Portland Jetport aims to boost safety

New grant money will help Portland [Maine] International Jetport pay for location transponders in 57 airfield vehicles. The FAA is providing $200,000 while the state and the airport are contributing smaller amounts. Portland Jetport Director Paul Bradbury said, “…the tragedy in LaGuardia happened at midnight, right? It’s dark; it’s hard for controllers to see. This will make it another opportunity for them to see exactly where every vehicle is on the airfield.”

White House construction contributed to radio problems that let Trump copter come close to jet

Several times controllers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport failed to hear the standard three-minute warning call that Marine One was getting ready to take off. Marine One is using the Ellipse while the new helipad is being constructed behind the White House. This caused the radio receiver to be moved to a different location. Now the FAA has adjusted the antenna “to improve communications” between Marine One and the airport.

Boeing nabs whopping $131 billion F-15 deal

The U.S. Department of War, in its Contracts for Aug. 24, 2026, says that it has awarded Boeing “a $131,230,000,000 ceiling, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the F-15 Eagle Crest in support of the F-15 Program Office. This contract provides for aircraft production, systems integration, modernization, upgrades, retrofits, sustainment, and the establishment of organic depot maintenance capabilities to deliver and maintain critical F-15 Eagle Weapon System capabilities for the Air Force, Air National Guard, and other Department of War customers. Work will be performed at St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to be completed by August 2037.”

TSA Scraps Gold+ Privatized Airport Screening Program After 3 Months

The Gold+ private airport screening program, which would privatize TSA screening, has been scrapped. In a previous web page (now taken down), the TSA explained Gold+:

“TSA Gold+ is a new public-private partnership aimed at modernizing aviation security at select airports across the United States. TSA Gold+ will pair the Screening Partnership Program with TSA’s innovation authorities to enable cutting-edge aviation security solutions.

“Under TSA Gold+, TSA will continue to set the standards for aviation security using outcome-based measures that both drive performance and security. Long-term Screening Partnership Program (currently a TSA private screener contract model) contracts will redirect funds into the investable partnerships where leading industry operators can manage both technology and screening workforce.”

Reasons cited for dropping the program:

Only three airports (Tampa, Charleston, and Des Moines) were interested in the Gold+ protocols.
Tampa International Airport performed “an extensive review and evaluation over several months” and announced it would not adopt Gold+.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), representing TSA screening officers, sued the TSA to force it to turn over records about TSA Gold+.

The TSA announced it will replace the Gold+ program with an “evolved” version of the existing public-private Screening Partnership Program (SPP). It was launched in 2002, where private companies hire and manage screening personnel while the TSA oversees operations. The SPP currently includes 20 U.S. airports.

Airlink pilots caught on video flying dangerously close to South African sports stadium

Two Airlink Embraer E190 passenger jets executed a flyover before a match at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium filled with some 60,000 fans. Airlink is a regional airline based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Flightradar24 calculated that the aircraft flew as low as 41–46 ft (12.5–14 m) above the top of the stadium. This generated widespread reaction about the safety of the spectacle. Some were appalled; others argued this was entirely in line with South African values.

Airlink says the South African Civil Aviation Authority approved the flyover and has offered to provide the black box data showing they complied with the waiver’s altitude and speed requirements. The airline said, “The two aircraft were flown by highly-experienced crew, with each comprised of three senior captains operating in the roles of commander, co-pilot and safety/technical officer. The flight data recorded by both aircraft confirms that the flights were performed within the SACAA’s approved and rehearsed safety altitude and speed limits for the flypast.”

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, Rob Mark, and David Vanderhoof.

901 Marine One

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?

Chart showing U.S. airports that were renamed for presidents.

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 FAA set a July 31, 2028, deadline for compliance.

Small plane makes hard landing into New York’s East River, officials say

A Kodiak 100 seaplane with eight people on board made a hard landing in the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan. There was “substantial damage” to the plane, but there were no injuries. The plane bounced three times, and the pilot subsequently told the passengers that a pontoon had broken.

A pattern of progressive porpoise leading to structural failure appears in NTSB seaplane accident reports across various types, including Cessna 206 and 208 Caravan floatplanes, de Havilland Beavers, and Twin Otters on floats.

A few East River/urban seaplane-specific factors that might be in play:

Wake and chop from harbor traffic (ferries, tour boats) create a much less predictable water surface than open lake/bay operations.
Confined approach corridors near Skyport limit go-around and abort options if the pilot senses a bad touchdown developing.
The area has had at least one other recent seaplane mishap (a two-seater damaged by a wave three weeks prior), suggesting water-surface conditions have been a recurring operational challenge this season.

The NTSB and FAA will be looking at whether this was primarily a pilot technique issue (porpoise recovery), an environmental factor (wake/wave state at touchdown), or a mechanical issue in the float attachment itself.

Spurwink Farm International Fly-In

From the fly-in, Micah brings us interviews with Spurwink Farm Manager Christina Mitchell, listener Tad Yergey, and Cessna 185 Floatplane Pilot John Hartz.

John Hartz, in front of his Cessna 185. — John Hartz, one and a half of his children, and his Cessna 185.

Mentioned

Ever wonder if pilots become frightened during an emergency? In the Stories About Flying podcast, Rob looks at the topic through the lens of a near catastrophe: “Aircraft Emergencies and the Saga of Speedbird 009.”

NightSide with Dan Rea, WBZ NewsRadion, Not Just A Plane Topic.

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, David Vanderhoof, and Erin Applebaum.

812 Artificial Intelligence in Aviation

The FAA roadmap for Artificial Intelligence in aviation, clean aviation fuel setbacks, aviation fire-fighting foam, blended wing body aircraft, and the new Sikorsky VH-92A Marine One helicopter. Also, a first-timer’s experience at EAA Airventure Oshkosh.

Aviation News

FAA lays out ‘roadmap’ for AI safety in aircraft

In Roadmap for Artificial Intelligence Safety Assurance [PDF], the FAA says Artificial Intelligence (AI) must demonstrate its safety before it can be utilized in aviation. This is a challenge because AI systems achieve performance and capability by learning rather than design with the absence of engineering principles that guide the traditional engineering design process.

The document’s primary purpose is to provide a path that ensures the safety of Artificial Intelligence in aircraft and related systems for inflight operations. The roadmap also recognizes significant opportunities to use AI for safety. A set of principles are identified as well as the next steps in five areas to enable safety enhancements and the safe use of AI.

Clean Fuel Startups Were Supposed to Be the Next Big Thing. Now They Are Collapsing.

The article describes headwinds that impede progress toward the broader use of clean aviation fuel.

United Airlines plans to use jet fuel made from trash

United Airlines partnered with about 30 other global firms to form an “Eco-Skies Alliance” to finance the use of SAF made from trash. The airline’s initiative appears to have shut down.

Leading hydrogen aircraft startup is suddenly grounded

Startup Universal Hydrogen raised $100 million with backing from GE Aviation, American Airlines, and the venture capital arms of Airbus, JetBlue, and Toyota. Shareholders were recently informed that the company was shutting down. Universal Hydrogen could not raise additional financing from either new or existing investors.

Oil majors back out of biofuel in Europe

BP scaled back expansion plans for sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel in Europe. Chevron is furloughing workers at its Oeding, Germany biodiesel plant. Shell halted construction of a biofuel plant in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Air New Zealand becomes first major airline to scrap its 2030 climate goal

The airline cited delivery delays of new fuel-efficient aircraft and the price of alternative jet fuels. The 2030 target had been to reduce carbon intensity by 28.9%, compared with 2019 levels. The airline is working on a new near-term target.

Nearly 400 gallons of high-expansion foam fills Coast Guard hangar in Mobile

Due to a fault in the fire alarm system at the United States Coast Guard Aviation Training Center, almost 400 gallons of high-expansion foam filled the hangar. Three HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplanes and four MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters were in the hangar. These aircraft are being cleaned and inspected to assess damage.

WKRG Video: Nearly 400 gallons of high-expansion foam fills Coast Guard hangar in Mobile

Because the widely-used Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) contains dangerous PFAS (referred to as “forever chemicals”), the FAA and the Department of Defense (DoD) have engaged in a significant research project to test fluorine-free foam (F3).

Fluorine-Free Foam (F3) Transition for Aircraft Firefighting

In December 2022, Congress directed the FAA to prepare a transition plan to ensure an orderly move to MILSPEC F3 for aircraft firefighting. See: FAA Aircraft FireFighting Foam Transition Plan. In January 2023, DoD published an F3 military specification (MILSPEC), and foam manufacturers can now submit MILSPEC F3 agents for qualification by DoD. Once DoD certifies that a foam meets the new specification, it will be added to the Qualified Product List. FAA considers foams on the Qualified Product List as acceptable to use to satisfy the regulatory requirements of Part 139.

Video: Fluorine Free Foam (F3) Transition Awareness Webinar [1 hour 30 min]

Alaska Airlines backs JetZero, takes options for future BWB aircraft

JetZero is working with the US Air Force, NASA, and the FAA to develop an ultra-efficient Blended Wing Body jet for entry into service by 2030. Alaska Airlines’ venture capital arm, Alaska Star Ventures, invested in JetZero under a Series A funding round last year. Alaska has taken options for future aircraft orders. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Biden takes inaugural flight in long-delayed new ‘Marine One’ helicopter

President Joe Biden took his first flight aboard the Sikorsky VH-92A helicopter serving as Marine One. The was the maiden presidential voyage for the years-delayed helicopter.

Guest

Mali experienced her first EAA Airventure Oshkosh this year. She’s not an aviation enthusiast herself, but her father and brother are. Mali wanted to attend Osh so she could understand their passion for aviation. She tells us what she learned.

Mali and her father flew to Oshkosh in her father’s Cherokee. They stopped along the way at the National Museum of the United States Air Force for a “crash course” in aviation. Then at Airventure, Mali immersed herself in all that the event had to offer, including camping with the plane. It’s a fascinating look at this great event through the eyes of a perhaps atypical attendee.

Mentioned

Dirt track hall of fame driver Scott Bloomquist believed dead in plane crash and Racing Driver Scott Bloomquist Dies In Cub Crash

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, and Hillel Glazer.

Episode 121 – Jason is Wired on Aviation

Jason Paur joins as guest. He’s a contributing writer for Wired.com where Jason posts to the Autopia blog. Find Jason on Twitter as @jasonpaur. We talk about the week’s aviation news and some of Jason’s recent articles, including Exclusive: We Fly An Electric Airplane and SpaceShipTwo First Glide Flight Details From The Pilot.

The week’s aviation news:

Mentions:

Also see Steve and Grant’s Australia Desk archive and their Flight Time Radio segments.

Follow the @AirplaneGeeks on Twitter and on Facebook, send us email at thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com, or leave a message on our listener line: (361) GEEKS01.

Opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.