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FAA Finally Ditching Floppy Disks From Air Traffic Control

staff@jalopnik.com (Ryan Erik King) — Sat, 07 Nov 2026 22:05:00 +0000

Over 400 locations are set to get the upgrade from the FAA's old system to a new, digitized system, but the cost keeps rising.

The Buick Engine That Helped Launch The SR-71 Blackbird

staff@jalopnik.com (Charles Krome) — Sat, 07 Nov 2026 17:25:00 +0000

The SR-71 Blackbird couldn't get into the air on its own. For its turbines to get up to speed, it needed some extra assistance from a Buick V8.

Mid-Air Helicopter Collision Near Everest Base Camp Kills Tourist, Injures 2 Others

staff@jalopnik.com (Ryan Erik King) — Tue, 03 Nov 2026 21:50:32 +0000

The two helicopters collided while trying to land in the same spot.

FAA Finally Certifies Boeing 737 Max 10 For Commercial Delivery, Bringing The Entire 737 Family Into Service

staff@jalopnik.com (Nicholas Werner) — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 20:45:00 +0000

After a five-year wait, the Federal Aviation Administration has approved the last member of Boeing's 737 Max family. Coming soon to an airport near you.

Ukraine Evacuates Wounded Soldier Via Giant Drone

staff@jalopnik.com (Nicholas Werner) — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 16:36:00 +0000

This represents the first time this has been pulled off with an actual person in an actual war, but the idea has been percolating for some time.

U.S. Army Tests Bold New In-Flight Peeing Technology For Helicopter Pilots

staff@jalopnik.com (Nicholas Werner) — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 20:25:00 +0000

Hopefully, should the need ever come, the enemy will find themselves facing pilots that are well hydrated and well relieved.

Delta Passenger Arrested After Airport Tug Joyride Ends With Crash

staff@jalopnik.com (Ryan Erik King) — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 17:23:37 +0000

Sometimes you just have to go outside and stretch your legs before a long flight.

Boeing Wins Navy Contract, Will Make All Sixth-Generation Fighters Across All U.S. Service Branches

staff@jalopnik.com (Nicholas Werner) — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 15:17:08 +0000

Other than the fact that it exists and a few foggy artist's rendering, we don't know much about the F/A-XX.

United Passengers Only Got A $175 Voucher After 12 Hours Stuck On Grounded Plane

staff@jalopnik.com (Ryan Erik King) — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 16:05:00 +0000

It's fair to say the passengers would want a full refund after their lengthy ordeal, but United Airlines didn't rush to whip out its corporate checkbook.

One Of The World's Most Remote Airports Is At Risk Of Closing, Jeopardizing Transpacific Flights

staff@jalopnik.com (Ryan Erik King) — Sun, 04 Oct 2026 13:05:00 +0000

Henderson Field on Midway Atoll is on the verge of closure unless the FAA undertakes a $100 million upgrade effort.

Could China Beat The U.S. To Re-Introducing Supersonic Commercial Flight To The World?

staff@jalopnik.com (Nicholas Werner) — Sat, 03 Oct 2026 12:25:00 +0000

When the Concorde died, so did commercial supersonic flight. Now the U.S. and China both are starting new efforts, and each has certain advantages.

TSA, Like Your Local Grocery Store, Says Workers Aren't Allowed To Sit

staff@jalopnik.com (Amber DaSilva) — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 18:11:02 +0000

The Trump Administration seems to really hate the Transportation Security Administration.

Elon Musk And Delta's Ed Bastian Are Fighting, Y'all

staff@jalopnik.com (Collin Woodard) — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 16:44:16 +0000

Grab the popcorn.

A Pilot Sponsored By Red Lion Gasoline Decided He Should Make A Real Lion His Co-Pilot

staff@jalopnik.com (Brad Brownell) — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 03:25:00 +0000

It took a 1930s promotional genius to realize that if your company's mascot was a red lion, it would pay off to put an actual lion cub in the cockpit.

A Helicopter's 'Jesus Nut' Is The Last Thing You Want To Bust During A Flight

staff@jalopnik.com (Andy Kalmowitz) — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 23:45:00 +0000

You don't want any components failing in the middle of a helicopter ride, but this one should be of particular concern anytime you're airborne.

Guys Who Fished Military Drone Out Of The Ocean Can't Wait To Update Their Tinder Profile Pictures

staff@jalopnik.com (Justin Hughes) — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 19:25:00 +0000

The charter boat fishermen found the drone floating in the ocean and pulled it aboard, right alongside their various finned catches of the day.

I'm Sorry, Did Tommy Tuberville Somehow Not Know The Airline Industry Is Full Of Furries?

staff@jalopnik.com (Amber DaSilva) — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:08:53 +0000

I thought this was pretty common knowledge.

Sean Duffy Wants Another $30 Billion To Fix Air Traffic Control

staff@jalopnik.com (Ryan Erik King) — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 18:45:54 +0000

The total cost for modernizing air traffic control's infrastructure has now ballooned to over $42 billion dollars, with companies like Amtrak catching strays.

Feds Begin Leaving The Skies To AI In DC, Kick Off $875 Million Investment On SMART AI Tool

staff@jalopnik.com (Lalita Chemello) — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 16:25:00 +0000

For now, the soft rollout is underway and the AI SMART software is expected to be fully implemented in airports across the country by 2028.

Cut Fiber Optic Cable Plunges New York City And Philadelphia Airports Into Chaos

staff@jalopnik.com (Ryan Erik King) — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 21:35:29 +0000

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said it would take 13 hours to repair, but the fix should be completed soon - still, hundreds of flights have been canceled.