Tragic Accident Under Investigation

Aero-News Network is saddened to report that Sergeant First-Class Michael “Ty” Kettenhofen lost his life in a 13 March 2023 training mishap at Florida’s Homestead Air Reserve Base. Kettenhofen had served with the Army’s elite Golden Knights parachute demonstration team since 2020.

Skepticism Expressed

U.S. officials have released video that shows a Russian Su-27 fighter jet colliding with the aft-mounted pusher-propeller of a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree …

United States Air Force (USAF) brass set forth on Monday, 13 March 2023, that the $185-billion+ 2024 budget proposal they intend to put before congress will be plied to the acquisition of some 96 aircraft, including 72 fighter jets, and the boosting of the service’s research into future combat technologies. In addition to the aforementioned $185-billion, the Air Force is requesting $30-billion for the U.S. Space Force—thereby bringing the service’s total fiscal 2024 budgetary request to a kingly $215-billion.

An Exercise in Persistence

FlyersRights.org has submitted its reply brief to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in its FOIA case, which seeks to obtain information pertaining to the fixes the FAA ostensibly approved for the Boeing 737 MAX and the results of subsequent flight tests and safety analyses. The case is scheduled for oral argument on 20 April 2023.

Also: SnF Innovation Preview, ANN's April 1st Edition, Enstrom Update, NAA Boss Steps Down

If anyone needed another reminder that aviation is a bit troubled this, tragically, is it. The Reno Air Racing Association has announced that 2023 will mark the last race of its kind! RARA states that, “It is with heavy hearts that we write this to let you know that, after nearly 60 years of air racing in northern Nevada, 2023 will be the last National Championship Air Races at the Reno-Stead Airport. While we knew this day might come, we had hoped it wouldn’t come so soon. The Biden Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit seeking to block JetBl

Ax-3 Mission to Launch by November 2023

NASA and Axiom Space, the Houston-based, privately-funded space infrastructure concern, have signed a mission order for the third private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. Subject undertaking is slated to launch no earlier than November 2023 from the Florida’s Kennedy Space Center.

Securing the Future of General Aviation

On 09 March 2023, NATA president and CEO Curt Castagna testified before the House Aviation Subcommittee during the legislative body’s hearing on FAA Reauthorization, dubbed: Securing the Future of General Aviation. Castagna’s testimony focused on means by which to foster innovation, modernize infrastructure, increase sustainability, prioritize safety, strengthen the aviation workforce, and increase efficiency while building continually upon the past successes of business aviation.

I’ll See You on the Dark Side of the Moon …

Firefly Aerospace, the Cedar Park, Texas-based private aerospace firm and designer of commercial space-launch vehicles, has been selected by NASA to develop both a robotic lunar lander to deliver multiple payloads to the far side of the Moon and a communication satellite to orbit subject lunar area and relay data therefrom.

From 2013 (YouTube Version): Ugly To Many, But Incredibly Beautiful To Hard-Core Helo Fans

ANN CEO and Editor-in-Chief, Jim Campbell visited the Cold War Air Museum's Mi-24 Russian helicopter at HAI a little over a year ago and just couldn’t pass it up. Jim linked up with retired Col. Pete Coz of the United States Marine Corps and asked him to explain this flying exhibit. Col. Coz said they have been working on it for about five years to get it restored to flying condition. He told us he had flown Cobra helicopters in the past and said that the Mi-24 is much heavier and therefore it flies quite differently. He said the big differen

The Helicopter Was Not Certified For Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) By The FAA

On March 6, 2023, about 2157 central standard time, a Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC) R44II helicopter, N494SH, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Port O’Connor, Texas. The pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.According to the pilot’s family members, the intended destination of the flight was unknown. A preliminary review of Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) data showed that the helicopter departed from a road right next to the pilot’s residence at 2156:08.

Aero Linx: Colorado Aviation Historical Society Mission: "To acquire, restore, and preserve aircraft and other items of historical interest related to the development of aviation and spaceflight in the State of Colorado." The Society’s aircraft and artifacts are on display at Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum in Denver and the Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum. In 1969, the Society established the Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame to honor those individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of aviation and aerospace activities in Colorado. Membership is open to all who have an interest in general, commercial, or military aviation. Our archives are

Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) A TFR is a regulatory action issued by the FAA via the U.S. NOTAM System, under the authority of United States Code, Title 49. TFRs are issued within the sovereign airspace of the United States and its territories to restrict certain aircraft from operating within a defined area on a temporary basis to protect persons or property in the air or on the ground. While not all inclusive, TFRs may be issued for disaster or hazard situations such as: toxic gas leaks or spills, fumes from flammable agents, aircraft accident/incident sites, aviation or ground resources engaged in wildfire suppression, or aircraft relief activities following a disaster. TFRs may also be issue

"It [the MQ-9] probably broke up, probably not a lot to recover, frankly. … As far as the loss of anything of sensitive intelligence, etc., as normal we would take, and we did take, mitigating measures. So we are quite confident that whatever was of value is no longer of value." Source: From a statement by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and General Mark Milley, following the collision between a US drone and a Russian SU-27 Flanker.