Airplane Geeks Podcast

A 737 crew couldn’t properly hand fly the airplane after autopilot failures, and we discuss the Master Minimum Equipment List. Also, airline furloughs, Austrian Eurofighter Typhoons, Air Force pilot production efforts, an engine shutdown due to rain, flights to nowhere, too much PPE for American Airlines, an airport throws out an operator.

Some Boeing 787s are grounded due to structural problems, Rolls-Royce financials don’t look good, a positive TSA story, another virtual flight option, US DOE funding for electric aircraft technologies, Pipistrel to set electric aircraft world records, Elon Musk says 3-4 years for effective electric aircraft batteries, Spirit avoids layoffs, and $200 ticket change fees are dropped.

A retired U.S. Air Force colonel tells the “leave no one behind” story of a pilot who ejected over the Gulf of Tonkin. Also, Boeing could consolidate 787 assembly lines, F/A-18 ski jump launch trials, a live air-to-air missile at Lakeland Airport, man arrested after driving under a taxiing airplane, a virtual airline, AI bests a human F-16 pilot in simulated dogfights.

We look at the Boeing 737 MAX NPRM for return to service, Phillips 66 investment in sustainable aviation fuel, JetBlue carbon neutrality on domestic flights, this year’s Collier Trophy winner, American Airlines plans to eliminate some smaller destinations, and the F-16 fighter jet sale to Taiwan.

Latinas in aviation tell their stories, Pieter Johnson talks with Matt Bone from the Hawker Typhoon Preservation Group, and Steve Vischer and Grant McHerron bring us up to date on Virgin Australia and Tiger Airways in the Australia News Desk. Launchpad Marzari reports from The Airplane Restaurant in Colorado Springs where the centerpiece is a fully intact Boeing KC-97 tanker.

Boom Supersonic and Virgin Galactic supersonic commercial aircraft eye Rolls-Royce engine technology, China’s AG600 large seaplane, United’s ERJ-145 regional jets to CommutAir, pilot re-examinations, Boeing’s quarterly loss and good 737 MAX news, airline passengers and booze, the growing stockpile of airline nuts, and Allegiant Air’s clever “work from Vegas” packages.

EPA aviation climate control proposal, airline furloughs, military pilot flying experience, Airbus autonomous A350, Delta Airlines simplifying fleet, Garmin outage, Australia News Desk, discount code, choosing a flight school.

An A-10 pilot talks about flying combat missions, Boeing 737 MAX cancellations, airline layoffs and furloughs, Emirates A380 plan, American Airlines and JetBlue partner, a bizarre Icelandair plan, aviation museums re-opening, Chrome Dome mission, a drive-in airshow, Urban Air Mobility.

Possible United furloughs, airline bookings down, flight training with social distancing, enforcing airline face covering policies, airports responding to the pandemic, Boeing’s 737MAX pilot training document, Spirit Airlines helps a family in need.

Boeing 737 MAX certification flight tests, Airbus job eliminations, COVID-19 protocols, Aeromexico bankruptcy, NBAA convention, Concept of Operations for Urban Air Mobility, Ryanair 737 MAX, Austrian Airlines rail service, uncontained engine failure report, geared turbofan engine replacements, yellow warning cards at Alaska Airlines.