Tag Archives: U-2

887 Runway Incursion

Aviation News

Decades of aircraft and ground vehicle near misses at LGA preceded fatal crash

Air Canada CRJ900 operated by Jazz. — CRJ900, courtesy Air Canada.

A tragic runway incursion at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on March 22, 2026, ended in disaster when an Air Canada Jazz CRJ900 landing there collided with an airport rescue and firefighting vehicle on the runway. The crash claimed the lives of both pilots and left dozens seriously injured.

FAA tightens helicopter safety rules near major airports

The FAA now requires air traffic controllers to use radar to manage aircraft and helicopters in close proximity. The interim general notice (Notice (GENOT) JO 7110.801 – Interim Helicopter Separation Procedures) suspends the use of visual separation between airplanes and helicopters in Class B and Class C airspace, and Terminal Radar Service Areas (TRSAs).

The DOT said, “Many helicopter operators who are used to obtaining immediate approval to transit through certain areas may have to adjust their flight routes or be delayed while controllers ensure they maintain safe distance from other aircraft. When helicopter pilots, conducting urgent medical or LEO missions, request to fly through these heavy-traffic areas, airline operations to those airports may be disrupted in order to allow these missions priority clearance.”

Exclusive: Airbus seeks Pratt & Whitney damages over engine delays, sources say

Airbus is frustrated with Pratt & Whitney over the slow delivery of GTF engines for the A320 family. The issue stems from an allocation crunch, with demand coming both from Airbus for new aircraft and from airlines waiting on repairs to get problem engines back in service. Reports suggest Airbus may be seeking potential damages.

This stems from a manufacturing problem where contaminants were introduced into the nickel-based powdered metal used to forge certain rotating engine components. (Turbine disks and some HPC parts.) These engines face an increased risk of microscopic cracks and premature failure, particularly those produced roughly between late 2015 and 2021. Instead of waiting for routine shop visits, these engines required accelerated inspections and life‑limit reductions.

NASA Second X-59 Flight Cut Short from Warning Light

The second flight of the NASA X-59 supersonic demonstrator ended after nine minutes when a warning light illuminated shortly after takeoff. An unrelated caution light indicated an issue prior to the flight, but after a system reset, the flight was approved to proceed.

The first flight took place on October 28, 2025, when the demonstrator reached 12,000 feet and 200 knots. The second flight was intended to last an hour and reach 20,000 feet and 225 knots, but ended up matching the first flight.

A-10 Warthogs Are Prowling For Iranian Boats In The Strait Of Hormuz

The Pentagon has long sought to retire the A-10 Warthog, but Congress has kept it flying. In the meantime, A-10 pilots have been training for a maritime mission: attacking Iranian fast boats in the Strait of Hormuz. AH-64 Apache attack helicopters are also now performing this mission, as well as shooting down Iranian drones. The A-10 has long been considered a close air support aircraft for ground forces, but it also has a maritime role.

JetBlue and American Airlines Bid to Serve Presque Isle Airport

The U.S. Department of Transportation has received proposals from JetBlue and American Airlines for the next Essential Air Service contract for Presque Isle International Airport. JetBlue has provided the service since 2024 with seven weekly round-trip flights to Boston. The 140-seat Airbus A220s depart early in the morning and return late at night. The airline is proposing to continue that service.

American Airlines is proposing at least 12 round-trip weekly flights on a 65-seat jet, split between Boston and Philadelphia. American is seeking a two-year contract with an average annual subsidy of $8.2 million. JetBlue is seeking an $11,521,129 in each of four years, or a two-year contract worth $11,745,899 annually.

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U.S. Air Force to Update U-2 Dragon Lady Defensive System

The U-2 Dragon Lady first flew 70 years ago, and it’s still being used as an ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) platform. Recently, BAE Systems was awarded a contract by Robins Air Force Base in Georgia to support and sustain the U-2’s AN/ALQ-221 Advanced Defensive System (ADS).

In a press release (BAE Systems to modernize Advanced Defensive System for the U.S. Air Force U-2 reconnaissance aircraft), BAE said, “Under the contract, BAE Systems will provide continuous field service support for the aircraft’s electronic warfare (EW) system, complete repairs to maintain system availability, and provide software updates so it can detect and engage new threats.”

Mentioned

Stories about Flying. Flight Instructing is About More Than Just Logging Hours.

China Clipper (1936) movie.

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, Rob Mark, and Erin Applebaum.

858 Lockheed U-2 Spy Plane

The Lockheed U-2 spy plane on its 70th anniversary, Boeing workers strike the St. Louis plant, the NTSB hearing on the DCA mid-air collision, and Injuries due to air turbulence. Also, Micah and Capt. Dana meet up and record the conversation, and news about this year’s Cranky Dorkfest.

Aviation News

U-2 Just Set New Records On The 70th Anniversary Of Its First Flight

Lockheed proposed the U-2 Dragon Lady spy plane in 1953, it was approved in 1954, and its first test flight took place in 1955, seventy years ago. According to ATC radio traffic, the U-2 just set several records, including an “endurance record for category and class for aircraft.” During the Cold War era, the U-2 flew over the Soviet Union, China, Vietnam, and Cuba. Gary Powers was shot down in a CIA U-2 by a surface-to-air missile over the Soviet Union in 1960. Major Rudolf Anderson Jr. was shot down in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

The Lockheed Martin U-2 Dragon Lady in flight. — U-2 Dragon Lady, courtesy Lockheed Martin.

‘Double Trouble’ Boeing F-47 NGAD Problems the Air Force Never Saw Coming

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) recommended that members accept Boeing’s four-year contract offer for the St. Louis plant. Instead, union membership voted to authorize a strike, potentially disrupting the production of Boeing aircraft.

IAM District 837 Members in St. Louis Reject Latest Boeing Offer, Strike for Fair Contract

Approximately 3,200 highly-skilled IAM Union members at Boeing facilities in St. Louis voted to reject a modified four-year labor agreement with Boeing. This vote follows members’ rejection of Boeing’s earlier proposal on Sunday, July 27.

FAA planning more helicopter route changes after fatal collision

At a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigative hearing, the FAA said additional changes will be made to a key helicopter route near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. This follows restrictions imposed in March and June. At the hearing, NTSB officials expressed concerns about the FAA failing to turn over documents in a timely manner, inaction by the agency after earlier reports of close calls, and a “disconnect” between controllers and FAA leaders.

Turbulent SLC flight passengers likely entitled to up to $250k for damages, aviation attorney says

“An aviation attorney says passengers on the Delta flight could be entitled to $250K in compensation.” The turbulence was encountered on a Delta Airbus A330-900 flying from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam. The plane diverted to Minneapolis, and 25 passengers and crew members were hospitalized.

Dinner With Dana

Captain Dana, an A320 family pilot, visited with Micah and talked about flying, his background, and how he traveled to Maine.

Captain Dana and Micah seated outside a restaurant. — Captain Dana and our Main(e) Man Micah.

Mentioned

NTSB News Talk – Reaga n National Midair NTSB Hearing Day 1: Army Black Hawk & Regional Jet Crash Testimony

Reagan National Midair NTSB Hearing Day 2: Army Black Hawk & CRJ-700 Testimony

It is Time to RSVP for Cranky Dorkfest (Yes, You Need to RSVP This Year)

Sustainable Skies World Summit 2026: Save the Date! – 17–18 March 2026, Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre, UK.

Hosts this Episode

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

633 Aviation Safety

A Congressional report is critical of aviation safety and the FAA, the Air Force flies an AI co-pilot, precision airdrops as a service, Antonov AN-124 cargo, Chinese SODramjet, world’s first female aeronautical engineer, airline emissions statistics, flying through smoke.

Aviation News

Boeing ‘inappropriately coached’ pilots in 737 MAX testing: U.S. Senate report

The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation released a Committee Investigation Report titled Aviation Safety Oversight prepared by the Committee Republican staff. In testimony, whistleblowers were critical of Boeing and the FAA.

The report says that concerning this year’s testing of the MCAS system, Boeing officials “had established a pre-determined outcome to reaffirm a long-held human factor assumption related to pilot reaction time … It appears, in this instance, FAA and Boeing were attempting to cover up important information that may have contributed to the 737 MAX tragedies.”

Southwest Airlines Allegedly Cut Corners, Pilots Struggled to Get Planes to Take Off

In the same report, a whistleblower working as an FAA safety inspector at a Southwest base alleged that the airline’s Performance Weight and Balance System (PWB) was flawed. The PWB system was introduced in 2017 but Southwest removed safety buffers and some pilots reported difficulty getting airborne. A Southwest spokesperson said, “We discovered a discrepancy between data systems involving the weight of a number of aircraft earlier this year. Southwest took immediate actions to prevent a recurrence, which included notifying the FAA, correcting the data discrepancies, and launching a daily audit to review each of the impacted systems.”

Dash Systems raises $8M for precision-airdrops-as-a-service at distant or disaster-stricken destinations

Dash Systems wants to expedite the “middle-mile” with military-inspired airdrops. They say Land the package not the plane^TM and seek to drop pallets of parcels (“pods”) at their penultimate destinations, no matter how inaccessible the location is. The pods have control surfaces and a tail kit, and a method of slowing down and landing.

Swirl-in Airlift: Irregular Antonov Flights Deliver Relief to Phoenix Laxative Factory

Ukraine’s Antonov Airlines has been operating curious flights between Mumbai and Phoenix. Three An-124s have completed the route so far, and a fourth is enroute. Many speculated what the cargo is, but JetTip uncovers the true mission:

“The avgeek rumor-mill provided some hints at its cargo, with people saying it was carrying silica, seeds, or medicine; the payload is tons and tons of psyllium (pronounced “si-lee-uhm”), a plant grown in India, whose primary use is as a fibrous laxative. Coincidentally, psyllium is the main ingredient in Metamucil, which is manufactured in Phoenix.”

The Queen of the Hurricanes drove a Model A Roadster

Elsie MacGill is reported to be the world’s first female aeronautical engineer. Born in Vancouver in 1905, she wore leg braces because of polio. At one point she was told she’d never walk again. In 1938 she became the chief aeronautical engineer at Canadian Car and Foundry (Can Car) in charge of the design and construction of the Maple Leaf II training biplane, the world’s first aircraft designed and built by a woman. MacGill retooled the Can Car factory to mass-produce the Hawker Hurricane, and she was responsible for coming up with a winterized version with skis. Elsie MacGill died in 1980, at the age of seventy-five. She was posthumously inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame in 1983.

The Experimental Engine That Could Get Us Anywhere in the World in 2 Hours

The Chinese have developed and demonstrated a Standing Oblique Detonation ramjet engine, or SODramjet for hypersonic propulsion at Mach 16. It’s an old concept that utilizes shock waves produced in the engine. The Chinese demonstrator reached Mach 9 in a wind tunnel. See The criteria for hypersonic airbreathing propulsion and its experimental verification in the Chinese Journal of Aeronautics.

Air Force U-2 Surveillance Plane Flies First Mission with AI Copilot

The U.S. Air Force flew a U-2 Dragonlady reconnaissance aircraft with an artificial intelligence system as the co-pilot. Going by the call sign ARTUµ (pronounced R-2), the algorithm took control of the sensor systems after take off in an exercise that simulated a missile strike. As the pilot flew the U-2, ARTUµ controlled sensors and navigation and watched for enemy launch weapons.

Countries Ban U.K. Flights Amid Mutant Coronavirus Concerns

Flights between the U.K. and a number of other countries are being banned after a new, more contagious coronavirus strain was detected.

Mentioned

Facebook’s artificial intelligence robots shut down after they start talking to each other in their own language

Flying Dirty: Why Airlines Emissions Rise Even When They Try to Cut

420 Regulating Airline Emissions

A United Nations plan to regulate airline emissions, the U-2 accident and the current role of that airplane, the FAA provides some aviation career guidance, a U.S. Department Of Transportation committee is reviewing accommodations for disabled passengers, and F-117s back in the air.

News

More Nations Sign on to Plan to Regulate Airline Emissions

Landmark deal to curb airline emissions expected in Montreal

A UN-led proposal to address commercial aviation pollution emissions has gotten a lot of international support. The agreement would take effect in 2021 and be voluntary at the start. It would become mandatory in 2027. The program would require international airlines to limit their emissions to 2020 levels, or buy credits to offset their pollution. The credits would support renewable energy development, forest preservation, or other environmental efforts.

U-2 Spy Plane Crash: Why ‘Cold War’ Aircraft Are Still Relevant Today

Lt Col Steve “Shooter” Eadie

A Lockheed U-2CT on a training mission crashed in northern California September 20 shortly after takeoff from Beale Air Force Base. Both pilots ejected, but one did not survive. A memorial fund for Lieutenant Colonel Steve “Shooter” Eadie has been established.

The FAA Explores General Aviation Careers In Their Latest Safety Briefing

The September/October 2016 edition of the FAA Safety Briefing is titled “Avenues to Aviation.” [PDF]. In it, the FAA explores different and aviation careers, with a focus on general aviation. Feature articles explore flying and non-flying aviation career options, and some of the new vocations that the small Unmanned Aircraft Systems rule has enabled.

Airlines Seek To Curb Service-Animal Rules

There is a distinction between Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals. The exact definitions of each depends on the Act that applies: the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the 1986 Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). The ACAA recognizes emotional support animals as service animals, so U.S. airlines must allow them. But some passengers seem to abuse this and claim their pet is an emotional support animal. In April, 2016, the DOT created an Accessible Air Transportation Advisory Committee looking at passengers with disabilities. In October, the government/industry Committee is to propose a rule based on consensus recommendations.

F-117s Back In The Air

“Retired” F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighters have been seen flying in Nevada. Speculation as to the reasons for this run rampant.

Arnold Palmer flew, set records in Learjets before turning to Cessna

Arnold Palmer was a long-time supporter of aviation, and he will be missed.

Arnold Palmer’s trip to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2008. From left is former EAA president Tom Poberezny, Arnold Palmer, Rose Pelton and Jack Pelton. Photo courtesy EAA.org.

Airplane of the Week

The F-105 Thunderchief. In Part 1 of a two-part series on the Thud, David explains the airplane’s development and the single seaters. Check out these articles comparing the modern-day F-35 to the Vietnam era Thud:

America’s F-105 Thunderchief Fighter-Bomber: The F-35 of the Vietnam War?

Joint Strike Fighter = Thunderchief II?

And then there is this that David mentioned: VH1 Corvette Collection – Tease.

Mentioned

Miraculous Water Landings Before There Was “Sully”

Columbia Memorial Space Center

A Pilot’s Review of the Movie “Sully” in The Rogue Aviator

Aeroengine Corporation of China plans to compete with the likes of Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce and General Electric from Defence Aviation.

Credit

Intro music courtesy Brother Love from his Album Of The Year CD. Outtro by Bruno Misonne from The Sound of Flaps.