Aviation Week's Check 6 Podcast

As the Farnborough Airshow approaches, editors discuss how engine-makers are making headway with nagging durability problems while positioning for the all-important next-gen single aisle competition—and explain how the two play into each other.  Thank you to our sponsor, Siemens. When aerospace leaders need trusted engineering and design solutions, they turn to Siemens comprehensive solutions. From design to delivery, our solutions support you throughout the entire product lifecycle.  Learn more at siemens.com

Listen in as Steve Parker, the CEO of Boeing's Defense, Space and Security division, explains the company's revised approach to bidding for contracts and shares program updates on the F-47, KC-46, MQ-28 and more ahead of the Farnborough Airshow. Thank you to our sponsor, Parker. With more than a century of aerospace expertise behind it, Parker is continuing to engineer the breakthroughs that lead to a better tomorrow. Find out more at Parker.com/Aerospace 

Listen in as Accenture's aerospace team identifies key trends to watch at this year's Farnborough Airshow in this sponsored podcast.  Find out more about Accenture here

Robert Wall and Tony Osborne dig into the UK's Defense Investment Plan, discussing how billions in new spending could reshape GCAP and airpower, electronic warfare and NATO strategy.

Ten years after the C Series entered service, editors are joined by Richard Aboulafia to assess the success of what is now the A220 and explain why a decision to stretch it or not is such a conundrum for Airbus. 

As Washington DC's Air & Space Museum turns 50, its director Chris Browne tells Aviation Week about its newest galleries and gives a sneak peek of what's on display ahead of their opening on July 1. Watch a video version of this episode on YouTube

Is your legacy test infrastructure the biggest bottleneck in your electrification program? In this sponsored podcast ACS breaks down why "purpose-built" test cells are failing to keep pace with the pace of innovation—and how moving to a modular, flexible design is the key to accelerating the path to certification. Learn more here

Editors discuss what Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg and Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said in exclusive interviews that feature in the next issue of Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine.

Aviation Week's Robert Wall, Steve Trimble and Brian Everstine explore the U.S. Air Force's award of Collaborative Combat Aircraft production contracts to Anduril and General Atomics. Thank you to our sponsor, GE Aerospace. GE Aerospace is uniquely positioned to support the Defense sector, providing reliable high performance, innovative military engines, systems and services. Learn more at geaerospace.com/military-defense

Aviation Week's Sean Broderick and Guy Norris join Joe Anselmo to discuss new details released by the NTSB into the fatal crash of a UPS MD-11 last November including flaws in a Boeing safety analysis. Read Sean's story here, available for free through 2026: UPS Accident Probe Finds Trail Of Missed Clues

Aviation Week editors at the ILA Berlin Air Show ask what's next for the German Air Force fighter fleet after the collapse of the multinational FCAS program.

Airline leaders from around the world converged on Rio last weekend for the IATA AGM at a time when the fallout from the Iran war is hitting the industry hard.

Aviation Week editors discuss how Europe is reshaping its military and commercial aviation sectors amid growing security concerns. 

As Blue Origin races to close the gap on SpaceX, a huge explosion on the launchpad has dealt the company a significant setback. Editors discuss how Blue will respond and implications for the broader launch market.

Editors discuss SpaceX's pitch for what will be the biggest IPO ever and what it could mean for the company.

Bank of America analyst Ron Epstein joins Aviation Week editors to discuss the 777X program's long-term outlook after news that it will likely not be certified until 2027, and how Airbus will respond. Thank you to our sponsor, Siemens. When aerospace leaders need trusted engineering and design solutions, they turn to Siemens comprehensive solutions. From design to delivery, our solutions support you throughout the entire product lifecycle.  Learn more at siemens.com

From the cancellation of RIAT to Turkey's newly announced ICBM, Aviation Week's Robert Wall and Tony Osborne navigate the evolving European defense scene. Thank you to our sponsor, GE Aerospace. GE Aerospace is uniquely positioned to support the Defense sector, providing reliable high performance, innovative military engines, systems and services. Learn more at geaerospace.com/military-defense

Editors are joined by guest columnist Scott Mikus, director of Melius Research covering aerospace, to discuss Boeing's strategic position in China following a 200-aircraft order from Beijing that disappointed Wall Street.

Aviation Week editors Guy Norris, Robert Wall and Graham Warwick discuss the state of X-planes, how they have historically performed and what challenge the next X-plane program should take on.

Vern Raburn's attempt to mass-produce low-cost airplanes was a flop. Was Eclipse the forerunner to today's air mobility ventures? Guest columnist Richard Aboulafia and retired editor Fred George join Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo and Graham Warwick to explore Raburn's legacy after his passing in late April. --- At Space Tech Expo USA, the Space Tech Challenge Awards, Roundtables, and STAR Pavilion connect execution-ready innovations with government agencies, prime contractors, and commercial operators actively seeking them Learn More

Aviation Week editors discuss how space control is front and center for the U.S. Space Force, allied services and adversaries. 

Aviation Week's Graham Warwick and Ben Goldstein examine Joby Aviation's piloted New York City demonstrations and Unither Bioelectronics' hydrogen-electric Robinson R44 flights in Quebec as advanced air mobility moves closer to real-world deployment.

Aviation Week editors discuss just how much missiles have become central to the Pentagon's modernization strategy, the status of Golden Dome's Space-Based Interceptor effort, and what we observed at the Modern Day Marine expo in Washington. --- Thank you to our sponsor, GE Aerospace. GE Aerospace is uniquely positioned to support the Defense sector, providing reliable high performance, innovative military engines, systems and services.  Learn more at geaerospace.com/military-defense

Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Michael Bruno, Jens Flottau and Guy Norris discuss recent earnings updates from Airbus and Boeing that saw the duopoly shrug off the Gulf War but note persisting supply chain issues. A freighter battle between the two is also heating up.

Editors reflect on a busy period for defense, sharing insights on Quad-A, Sea-Air-Space, Aviation Week's MALMS, the latest Pentagon budget figures, and everything else you need to know on air and missile modernization.

Editors discuss developments in European business aviation after this week's Aero Friedrichshafen and the cancellation of the EBACE show.

Listen in as our editors discuss the buzz over Artemis II, the push for multiyear milspace predicaments and the return of nuclear reactors.  

U.S. first-quarter earnings are typically a non-event, but not this year. Aviation Week editors look ahead to updates from airlines and OEMs and share what they will be watching for.

Aviation Week editors discuss the recent rescue operation of the Dude 44 F-15E crew, which marks a significant advancement in military innovation.  --- From today's challenges to tomorrow's demands, Parker is helping shape the future of aerospace and defense.  Email: [email protected].

Aviation Week editors covering commercial aviation and space convene to discuss how and why airlines are increasingly offering fast inflight Wi-Fi for free. Listen in to here Jens Flottau, Christine Boynton, Thierry Dubois and Robert Wall break it down.

Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Brian Everstine, Vivienne Machi and Steve Trimble delve into the winners and losers in the White House's $1.5 trillion defense spending plan. --- Today's aerospace and defense programs demand speed, precision, and resilience. A long-time trusted partner in the industry, Siemens empowers organizations to design, build, and sustain next-generation systems faster. Learn more at siemens.com today.  

As NASA begins X-59 envelope expansion and Boom develops its first high speed engine, civil supersonic activity is at its highest since the retirement of Concorde in 2003. Aviation Week editors discuss the latest developments and the challenges that lie ahead.

The new administrator shakes up the space agency with plans for lunar base and sunsetting SLS. Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo and Irene Klotz speak with Redwire Space President Michael Gold about the developments. 

Editors are joined by AeroDynamic Advisory Managing Director Richard Aboulafia to discuss the progress of airliner production by Airbus in Alabama and Boeing in South Carolina. 

Aviation Week editors discuss the increase in projected Golden Dome costs and what the fiscal 2027 Pentagon budget request may tell us about the umbrella program.

Conflict and fuel prices have battered air transport, but U.S. carriers are surprisingly confident. Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Christine Boynton, Jens Flottau and Lori Ranson discuss how the Iran war is affecting airlines in different regions and look ahead to potential ripple effects.

Aviation Week editors Robert Wall and Steve Trimble discuss the evolution of laser weapons that are now getting their first battlefield kills and are destined for new applications. 

Aviation Week's Guy Norris and Tony Osborne are joined in Atlanta by vertical flight veteran Mike Hirschberg of H2 Advisors to discuss the highlights of this year's Verticon rotorcraft expo.

Some 14 years after exiting the single-aisle engine market, Rolls-Royce is trying to get back into it, unveiling a new engine concept called the UltraFan 30—but can it break the CFM-Pratt duopoly? Editors are joined by guest columnist Scott Mikus, director of Melius Research covering aerospace, to discuss the dynamics in next-generation single-aisle propulsion.

Aviation Week's Robert Wall, Jens Flottau and Steve Trimble discuss the military operation in Iran, how it has disrupted commercial air travel and consider the ramifications for aviation.  

Listen in as Aviation Week's Robert Wall, Brian Everstine, Vivienne Machi and Guy Norris reflect on program updates and other highlights from the AFA Warfare Symposium. Thank you to our sponsor L3Harris. L3Harris' Red Wolf and Green Wolf deliver an unfair fight by combining speed, extended range and lethality through kinetic and non-kinetic effects: https://www.l3harris.com/all-capabilities/l3harris-pack-launched-effects

Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Michael Bruno and Jens Flottau are joined by consultant Kevin Michaels to break down President Trump's latest tariffs and where the pain will be felt in the aerospace supply chain.

Editors preview AFA Warfare Symposium, setting the scene for key topics that will be on the agenda in Colorado. They touch on new leadership and shifting priorities, modernization efforts, and key programs like on-orbit refueling and tanker development.

Editors are joined by Richard Aboulafia to discuss airliner production after Airbus shared its delivery targets for this year and Boeing updated its suppliers.

Editors are joined by Agency Partners' analyst Sash Tusa to discuss the fallout of the Munich Security Conference and Saudi Arabia's World Defense Show.  Key Topics: Overview of Recent Defense Events The Future of FCAS and European Defense Cooperation Germany's Nuclear Ambitions and European Security Insights from the World Defense Show in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia's Defense Industrialization Efforts Find out more about Aviation Week's Defense Conference here

NASA is under new leadership with Jared Isaacman. Listen in as he answers questions from Aviation Week's Irene Klotz after eight weeks on the job in this special episode presented by Editor-in-Chief Joe Anselmo. --- Nominations are now open for the Space Tech Challenge Awards—could your solution be a winner? Find out more and apply here https://spacetechchallenge.aviationweek.com/ The Space Tech Challenge Awards connect execution-ready innovations with the government agencies, prime contractors, and commercial operators actively seeking them. From lunar operations to Mars missions, the space industry faces nearly 200 validated capability gaps. The Aviation Week Space Tech Challenge Awards recognize solutions already in development — prototypes tested and advancing toward deployment. Presented at Space Tech Expo USA, this program connects working technologies with government agencies, prime contractors, and commercial operators ready to integrate them. 

Aviation Week's Robert Wall, Chen Chuanren and Brian Everstine report from the Singapore Airshow, sharing what they've been hearing about different military programs in the evolving geopolitical environment.

Listen in as Aviation Week's Guy Norris, Jens Flottau and Adrian Schofield sit down at the end of Day Two of the 2026 Singapore Airshow to break down what has—and hasn't—happened in commercial aviation at the event.

Listen in as Aviation Week's Robert Wall, Brian Everstine and Steve Trimble break down the Pentagon's new National Defense Strategy and what it means for the budget.

The Trump administration has started the clock on a near-total ban of foreign UAS and parts in the U.S. The surprise blanket ban has the potential to dramatically effect American customers and contractors alike—and not necessarily in a good way. Listen to Aviation Week's Michael Bruno and Bill Carey who are joined by The Drone Girl, Sally French, to explain what is happening and what it means.