Pearl Harbor forced first around-the-world commercial flight

Strange things occurred Dec 7, 1941 -- global flight without maps or preplanning -- really historic and great read (www.washingtonpost.com) More...

DFC awarded after four decades of service

Believed to be the first time in the four-decade history of the A-10 that a pilot has landed with no canopy and landing gear up, the Air Force said Maj. Brett DeVries, an A-10 pilot with the Michigan Air National Guard, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on Friday for an "extraordinary" emergency landing. During a routine training flight, a gun failure caused an explosion that blew away the cockpit canopy, stripped the plane of several panels, and damaged the landing gear.… (news.yahoo.com) More...

Tuskegee airman dies at 102

Charles McGee, vetran of 6,308 flying hours sucomes after a noted service record (www.washingtonpost.com) More...

Boeing cuts back on 737 Max 8 production

Boeing is cutting production of 737 Max jets as the company moves quickly to finalize a fix that will get the grounded aircraft flying again. Boeing's monthly production of the aircraft, involved in two crashes since October, is dropping by 20 percent from the current level of 52 a month to 42 a month, the company said Friday. "We're adjusting the 737 production system temporarily to accommodate the pause in MAX deliveries, allowing us to prioritize additional resources to focus… (www.cnbc.com) More...

The Marine Corps' first F-35C carrier-variant Joint Strike Fighter squadron has officially been declared ready for combat.

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, said its F-35Cs have achieved initial operational capability, or IOC, authorizing the aircraft for worldwide carrier deployment operations, according to a service release. (news.yahoo.com) More...

2019 Reno Air Races will begin on Wednesday, September 11 and ends Sunday, September 15

2019 Reno Air Races will begin on Wednesday, September 11 and ends Sunday, September 15 You owe it to yourself to attend at least once in your life. Site: Reno/Stead Airport (KRTS), NV, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reno_Stead_Airport Stead Airport will be towered from Thursday, 9/6 thru Monday, 09/17. Tenant PPRs to fly required from 0600 Sunday, 9/9 thru 0600 Monday, 09/17. Call Atlantic Aviation, RNO, to locate to RNO for easier flying from Friday, 09/07 thru Monday 09/17.… (airrace.org) More...

First-ever all-female Super Bowl LVII flyover

The fly-over team for Super Bowl LVII includes Lt. Arielle Ash of Abilene, Texas; Lt. Margaret Dente of North Salem, New York; Lt. Naomi Ngalle of Springfield, Virginia; Lt. Jacqueline Drew of Waltham, Massachusetts; Lt. Suzelle Thomas of Birmingham, Alabama; and, Lt. Kathryn Martinez, also of Springfield, Virginia. (www.al.com) More...

F-18 crashes at 'star wars canyon', death valley, Ca

A U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet jet crashed in Death Valley National Park near Father Crowley Vista Point Wednesday morning, leaving some visitors with minor injuries. The crash occurred at approximately 10 a.m. near an area often referred to as Star Wars Canyon, not far from the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. (www.latimes.com) More...

transition to F-35's not so easy for Russian pilots

The increasing number of F-35s in Europe means more pilots will have to learn to fly the jet, but the F-35's technological superiority means some pilots, especially those trained to operate Soviet-made aircraft, likely won't be able to make the change. (news.yahoo.com) More...

Eighty years ago this week, a small group of American aviators fought in their first battle in World War II.

Their mission was unusual: They were mercenaries hired by China to fight against Japan. They were called the American Volunteer Group and later became known as the Flying Tigers. see their story at (www.npr.org) More...