Airborne 09.02.26: LOW Stadium Flyby, SnF27 Tickets On Sale, Aerobatics Nat'ls
Two passenger jets conducted a dramatic low-altitude flyover at a South African stadium during a sporting event; Boeing also faced a $3.1 million fine.
September 6, 2026
Airborne 09.02.26: LOW Stadium Flyby, SnF27 Tickets On Sale, Aerobatics Nat'ls
Two passenger jets conducted a dramatic low-altitude flyover at a South African stadium during a sporting event; Boeing also faced a $3.1 million fine.
Aero-News: Quote of the Day (09.04.26)
US military helicopter sale proposed to Iraq aims to strengthen a strategic partner's rotary-wing transport, reconnaissance, and air defense capabilities.
Classic Aero-TV: Kitfox Upgrades Back-Country Undercarriage
Kitfox backcountry aircraft receives upgraded undercarriage and suspension components from Acme Aerofab, enhancing utility and safety performance for off-airport operations.
Microlight Aircraft of New Zealand - Ultraflight Systems Trikes
Historical overview of early microlight trike aircraft registered in New Zealand during 1982, including models from Ultrasports, Delore, and Ultraflight Systems manufacturers.
Airborne 08.28.26: Massive EAA Chapter Theft, RV-15 Wing Kit, Army to Navy
An EAA chapter treasurer faces grand theft charges; additional items cover carrier operations milestones, general aviation activities, and FAA air traffic control improvements.
Pratt & Whitney expands engine component production
Pratt & Whitney is investing $25 million to expand its manufacturing facility in Poland, boosting production capacity for engine components used in commercial and military aircraft. The facility expansion is expected to begin operations in 2028.
Europe has launched satellites aboard its own rockets for decades, but never from Western European soil; on 5 September 2026, German startup Isar Aerospace’s 28-metre Spectrum became the first rocket to reach orbit from the region, deploying five satellites from Arctic Norway on only its second flight—17 months after its debut lost control and crashed back to Earth less than a minute after liftoff.
German startup Isar Aerospace achieved Western Europe's first orbital launch from domestic soil when its Spectrum rocket successfully reached orbit from Arctic Norway on its second attempt, deploying five CubeSats after a failed inaugural flight 17 months earlier.
Epic Flight Academy adds two Tecnam P2006T aircraft
Epic Flight Academy has added two Tecnam P2006T twin-engine aircraft to its training fleet to expand multi-engine pilot instruction capabilities. The US-based flight school serves approximately 600 active students across multiple locations.
September 5, 2026
From January 1994 to March 1995, cosmonaut-physician Valeri Polyakov spent 437 consecutive days aboard Mir, circling Earth 7,075 times and travelling nearly 187 million miles to test whether a human could endure a Mars-length mission—and more than three decades later, no one has broken his record for a single continuous spaceflight.
Cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov's 1994-1995 record of 437 consecutive days aboard Mir remains unbroken over three decades, demonstrating human endurance for Mars-duration missions despite other physiological challenges of deep space remaining unresolved.
AATC expands capabilities for Singapore Flying College with ALSIM simulator
Airbus Asia Training Centre has acquired an advanced ALSIM Airliner flight simulator to expand pilot training capabilities at Singapore Flying College, enhancing the facility's equipment portfolio.
ANA expands E190-E2 fleet with additional order for eight aircraft from Embraer
ANA has signed a purchase agreement with Embraer for eight E190-E2 regional aircraft, expanding its narrowbody fleet as part of its fleet modernization strategy.
India’s FLY91 places historic order for 40 ATR 72-600 aircraft
Indian airline FLY91 has ordered 40 ATR 72-600 regional turboprops in a roughly $1 billion deal, representing ATR's largest firm order in nearly a decade.
Japan’s fire and disaster management agency orders first Airbus H160
Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency has ordered its first Airbus H160 helicopter for emergency response and disaster management operations.
ASL Australia signs preferred supplier agreement with Acron Aviation for 737 pilot training
Acron Aviation has secured a preferred supplier agreement with ASL Airlines Australia to provide Boeing 737 Type Rating training to pilots.
Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 80th Starlink mission of 2026
SpaceX is conducting its 80th Starlink mission of 2026, launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The company has shifted Falcon 9-based Starlink operations to the West Coast while preparing for Starship-Super Heavy's Florida debut.
Fire Breaks Out on Airbus A340 at Kocaeli Aviation Science Center in Turkiye
A fire broke out on a retired Airbus A340 aircraft on display at Turkey's Kocaeli Aviation Science Center, causing damage to the aircraft's tail section.
US Fighters, Drones Strike 3 Iranian Oil Tankers After Iran Fires on Navy Ships
U.S. military aircraft and drones conducted strikes against three Iranian oil tankers on September 5 amid escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz following Iranian fire on Navy vessels.
Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner in June 2024 for an eight-day test flight and came home on a SpaceX capsule 286 days later—not because they were chasing a record, but because NASA judged the propulsion problems on the spacecraft that carried them there too uncertain to risk bringing them back.
NASA astronauts Williams and Wilmore returned aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon after their planned eight-day Boeing Starliner test flight was extended 286 days due to unresolved thruster issues that made a crewed Starliner return too risky to attempt.
Zipline Drone Parachutes Onto Houston Highway, Nobody Called Police
A Zipline delivery drone made an emergency parachute landing on a Houston-area highway without causing injuries or damage, raising questions about operational safety protocols.
Afcom Cargo signs LOI for four Boeing 777-8 Freighters
Indian cargo airline Afcom Cargo has signed a letter of intent with Boeing for up to four 777-8 Freighter aircraft, pending conversion to a definitive purchase agreement.
Radioactive isotopes leaking from Europa’s seafloor rocks could split ocean water into hydrogen- and oxygen-bearing chemicals capable of feeding microbial life, according to a model presented in December 2025 — meaning the January 2026 finding that Europa probably lacks active seafloor faulting and hydrothermal vents may not eliminate its ocean as a potentially habitable environment.
Research suggests radioactive isotopes in Europa's seafloor could generate chemical energy supporting potential microbial life, offering an alternative habitability pathway even without active hydrothermal vents previously thought necessary for the icy moon's subsurface ocean.
EU ETS Aviation Could Expand in 2029 - Here's What Changes
The European Commission proposes expanding its Emissions Trading System to cover more international aviation routes starting in 2029, while simultaneously increasing sustainable aviation fuel incentives and expanding business aviation inclusion under the scheme.
New Partnership Bridges Gap From University to Airline Careers
Pan Am Flight Academy and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University have partnered to expand pilot training pathways, offering discounted ATP-CTP certification courses in Miami to help university students and graduates transition into commercial airline careers.
Watch Isar Aerospace try to make history today with launch from Norway
Isar Aerospace's Spectrum rocket is attempting to launch today from Norway, aiming to become the first orbital vehicle to launch from European soil.
Greek F-4 Phantom Crashes During Airshow Near Athens
A Hellenic Air Force F-4 Phantom crashed at Tanagra Air Base near Athens during an airshow display, with no indication of pilot ejection. The incident occurred during the Athens Flying Week event.
Parachutist Collides With Departing Cessna 172
A parachutist lost canopy control during descent, overshooting the designated drop zone and colliding with a Cessna 172 that was departing. The accident investigation identified the parachutist's failure to manage the canopy as the probable cause.
On this day in space! Sept. 5, 1977: NASA launches Voyager 1 on epic journey across the solar system
On September 5, 1977, NASA launched Voyager 1 from Cape Canaveral, initiating one of the most significant space exploration missions. The probe went on to explore the outer planets and eventually venture into interstellar space, making it a landmark achievement in spaceflight history.
Future Airmen to Get Less Sleep, More Stress in Basic Training
The U.S. Air Force is implementing more demanding basic training for new recruits, including reduced sleep and increased stress levels, to better prepare Airmen for the rigors of modern combat operations.
ANA Orders Additional E190-E2 Aircraft
All Nippon Airways has placed an additional order for Embraer E190-E2 regional jets, with aircraft deliveries scheduled to commence in 2028.