SPACE reports, “Pulsar Fusion just released a video showcasing its planned Sunbird nuclear fusion rocket, which is designed to reach speeds of about 329,000 mph (500,000 kph). That would make it the fastest self-propelled object ever created by humankind. (NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has reached greater velocities during close solar flybys, thanks to the sun’s powerful gravitational pull.)”
Full Story (SPACE)
Pulsar Fusion Sunbird – Migratory Transfer Vehicle
(Pulsar Fusion; YouTube)
Aviation International News reports, “Recently, Bristow’s Dave Stepanek outlined why the helicopter operator has made such a big commitment to buying urban air mobility (UAM) aircraft that have yet to be certified. As Bristow’s executive v-p and chief transformation officer, Stepanek is responsible not only for sourcing these aircraft but also figuring out how they fit into the company’s far-flung operations in 19 countries.”
Full Story (Aviation International News)
Aerotime reports, “In 2023, after months of meticulous planning, the founder and CEO of Japanese business aircraft operator OpenSky, Shigeto Honda, took delivery of Japan’s first Pilatus PC-12 NGX turboprop and PC-24 jet. The arrival of the two Pilatus private aircraft brought Honda’s vision to life, enhancing the development of Japan’s private and business travel market by providing clients with access to previously underserved routes across the country.”
Full Story (Aerotime)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2025 – Tucson, Ariz. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) announced the winners of the 29th Annual AIAA Design/Build/Fly (DBF) Competition:
Complete results are posted at aiaa.org/dbf.
This year marks DBF’s largest ever flyoff participation, with 1,200+ students on 97 university teams attending onsite. The flyoff was hosted by AIAA Corporate Member RTX in Tucson, Ariz. Teams from 14 countries participated in the flyoff weekend, including the U.S. with representation from 34 states.
This year’s flight objective was to design, build, and test an airplane to execute an X-1 Supersonic Flight Test Program, including the launch of an X-1 test vehicle – an autonomous glider with flashing lights. Teams also conducted a timed ground mission demonstration of the X-1 Flight Test Program.
“DBF is a highlight of the AIAA year,” said AIAA CEO Clay Mowry. “The students who compete here are the next generation of aerospace professionals. Congratulations to the winning teams!
“This year’s DBF mission is inspired by the Bell X-1 plane that Chuck Yeager flew when he broke the sound barrier in 1947. It was a feat once deemed impossible. The X-1 was powered by an XLR-11 engine build by Reaction Motors, a company spun out of the American Rocket Society, one of AIAA’s predecessor organizations in 1941. Our newly unveiled AIAA logo is inspired by the Bell X-1 breaking the sound barrier. We hope these students channel the X-1 spirit in their future careers to show the world what’s possible.” Mowry added.
Russ Althof, director of the DBF Organizing Committee, said, “We owe our thanks for the success of the DBF Competition to the efforts of many volunteers from RTX, Textron Aviation, and the AIAA sponsoring Technical Committees: Applied Aerodynamics, Aircraft Design, Flight Test, and Design Engineering. These volunteers collectively set the rules for the contest, gather entries, judge the written reports, and execute the flyoff.”
The 2026 AIAA DBF Competition will be held in April 2026 hosted in Wichita, Kan., by Textron Aviation.
Media contact: Rebecca B. Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270
About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org, or follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram.
Vintage Aviation News reports, “The Museum of Flight is now accepting entries into their all ages Spacesuit Design Contest. With the top design in each of the 4 age categories being showcased at the Museum’s ‘Fashion in Flight’ event on November 8, 2025.”
Full Story (Vintage Aviation News)
Flying Magazine reports, “Textron Aviation recently unveiled its latest new variant, the Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen 3, which dovetails nicely with the 15th anniversary of the service entry of the first of the CJ4 line. More than 450 CJ4s are currently in operation, according to Textron. The Gen 3 version is expected to enter service next year.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
SPACE reports, “NASA’s next special delivery to the International Space Station has a launch date, but it’s going to be one for early-birds. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch an uncrewed Dragon cargo ship packed with tons of supplies on Monday, April 21, from the historic Pad 39A of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Liftoff is set for 4:15 a.m. EDT (0815 GMT), making it a predawn launch.”
Full Story (SPACE)
Breaking Defense reports, “The US Army has begun 3D printing swarms of small aerial drones for soldiers to train against, in anticipation of a decision on how to proceed with an initiative to cheaply and quickly mass produce drones, according to two senior Army leaders.”
Full Story (Breaking Defense)
Aviation Week reports, “NASA has requested proposals from American-led companies for two private astronaut missions to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of its ongoing strategy to transition the scientific development activities underway aboard the orbital lab to commercially owned and operated successors.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Flying Magazine reports, “Bombardier’s Global 8000, which the manufacturer bills as the world’s fastest and longest range business jet, could enter service as soon as this year. The high-powered business jet is expected to have a top speed of Mach 0.94 and range of 8,000 nm.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)