Headline News | Aero-News Network

Sat, May 16, 2026

Space Manufacturer Publishes Massive List of Starship V3 Upgrades Ahead of Launch

SpaceX is getting ready to fly the next generation of Starship, but before it does, it wants to tell the world exactly what it’s changed. And, from reading the update, the answer is: a lot. That’s likely for the best.

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Sat, May 16, 2026

Also: ERAU Prof Wins Grant, EAA YE 2.5 Millionth, Ex-Spirit Pilots, AA Pilot Union Swap

India’s skies are expanding at full throttle, and now a new training route is giving future pilots a clearer path into commercial aviation. With airline demand surging and fleets growing rapidly, Skyborne’s new Florida based programme could become a major launchpad for the next wave of Indian aviators. A new chapter is opening for aspiring pilots in India, and it feels like the kind of shift aviation watchers will be talking about for years. Proteus Flight School has trained thousands of pilots at Santa Monica Airport, outlasting competitors and weathering regulatory shifts that shuttered other operators at the field. But its future is uncertain now as closure of the airport hangs in the balance. Founded in 1996, Proteus is the oldest continuously operating flight school at the airport. It has since expanded to a primary location and a mainten

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Sat, May 16, 2026

Dual-Use Aircraft Targets Cargo, ISR, and Defense Missions

AIRO and Jaunt Air Mobility recently introduced their more-practical-than-normal entry to the advanced air mobility market, unveiling a full-scale autonomous aircraft at AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2026 that is aimed at defense, cargo, and government missions.

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Sat, May 16, 2026

Airlines Join Forces to Keep Operations Strong Amid Fuel Price Spike

Allegiant has officially sealed its $1.5 billion acquisition of Sun Country Airlines, turning two budget carriers into a much larger, leisure-focused one. This comes at a time when the low-cost model is getting put to the test, and many are starting to sink rather than swim.

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Sat, May 16, 2026

An Aero-News Network Industry Briefing Series

The FAA’s MOSAIC initiative represents one of the most significant regulatory shifts in modern sport and general aviation. Its implications will affect aircraft design, certification pathways, pilot access, training models, and the economic future of multiple market segments. Yet despite its importance, the MOSAIC conversation remains fragmented — often driven by speculation, incomplete information, or promotional messaging rather than experience-based analysis. To address this gap, the Aero-News Network is launching a new long-form webcast and editorial initiative. The FAA’s MOSAIC initiative represents one of the most consequential regulatory shifts in modern sport and general aviation. Its impact will be felt across aircraft design, certification pathways, pilot access, training models, and long-term industry sustainability. Yet much of the current dialogue surrounding MOSAIC remains fragmented, speculative, or driven by marketing narratives rather th

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Sat, May 16, 2026

National Championship For College Aviation Programs

The National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) has announced the host of SAFECON 2026, the national championship for college aviation programs, will be the Quad Cities International Airport (KMLI) in Moline, Ill., and Visit Quad Cities. The event will take place May 18-23, 2026. The Safety and Flight Evaluation and Conference (SAFECON) bring the best of the best in collegiate aviation to the national stage.There will be 500+ aviators from 30 colleges to compete in ground knowledge, simulator, and flying events, as well as vie for achievement, safety, and scholarship-based awards. Throughout the week, participants will network with aviation industry partners at booths, seminars, and sponsored meal events.

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Sat, May 16, 2026

Also: Air Force Greenlights T-7A, Terrain Awareness Survey, CAP Storm Response, FSA VAPI Approval (and YES! Holland’s Back From Maternity Leave, On Partial Duty!)

Zenith Aircraft Company is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its original STOL CH 701 “Sky Jeep” Design. Zenith Aircraft has been manufacturing SportPlanes in Mexico, Mo., since the early 1990s, operating in a niche corner of the market specializing in all-metal, high-wing and low-wing light sport airplanes that customers assemble themselves. The company traces its origins back to aeronautical engineer Chris Heintz, who began designing light aircraft in the 1970s. U.S. aviation fuel prices continued trending higher in April, with sustained increases nationwide as the war in Iran and ongoing instability in the Middle East continued to influence energy markets. National JET A full service averaged $8.05 in April, representing an increase of $0.41 (5.3%) compared to March. Excluding

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Sat, May 16, 2026

FedEx Becomes First Carrier to Operate an MD-11 Since Last November’s Accident

The MD-11 is back in the air… though not quite back in regular service yet, and we’ll see if it ever is. The short FedEx test flight marked the first step towards the trijet’s nationwide return-to-service after last November’s fatal accident left the jet grounded.

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Sat, May 16, 2026

Also: NASA Armstrong, DART Aerospace, UAE Regulator And Archer, Uncrewed Aerial Logistics

The Solar Impulse 2, a long-range experimental aircraft, crashed in the Gulf of Mexico when it lost power during an unmanned test flight on May 4, a report from the NTSB said. There were no fatalities or injuries. The NTSB said the aircraft suffered a loss of power before crashing into the ocean. It was completely destroyed. No one was on board. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), in collaboration with the Air Force Research Laboratory and Northrop Grumman, has flown the XRQ-73, a hybrid-electric, unmanned experimental aircraft. The flight occurred at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. in April 226 as part of DARPA’s series hybrid electric propulsion aircraft demonstration (SHEPARD) program. The FAA has issued a proposed rule that would allow specific categories of critical infrastructure sites to apply for restrictions on drone ope

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Sat, May 16, 2026

Also: KSMO’s Oldest Flight School, India’s Aviation Boom, 2.5 Millionth Young Eagle, Air Antilles Kaput

Wills Wing recently announced that production of all hang gliders will pause effective May 15, 2026. The decision comes amid unresolved uncertainty surrounding ownership and authorization of key intellectual property connected to the Wills Wing brand and its Mexico based operations. The situation traces back to 2021, when Wills Wing revealed plans to close its longtime California manufacturing facility after 48 years in operation. According to findings reviewed by military investigators, a Major pilot preparing for his final flight before reassignment wanted to capture memorable in flight photos during the mission. Another pilot agreed to help stage the shot. What followed was a split second decision that carried a very expensive consequence. Lockwood Aviation’s Rotax-powered RV-9A concept has moved out of the attractive spec s

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