900 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 Preview

899 PWM Airport Director

Jul 1, 20261h 41mSummary

In this episode of the Airplane Geeks podcast, the hosts welcome back Paul Bradbury, the long-serving airport director of the Portland International Jetport in Maine. Their conversation centers on the complex challenges facing modern airports, including managing passenger growth, expanding parking capacity, and navigating the impact of FAA-mandated flight caps due to air traffic control limitations. Bradbury also provides insight into the implementation of Required Navigation Performance (RNP) approaches, a technology used to effectively mitigate aircraft noise for surrounding communities. Beyond the interview, the panel dives into a variety of pressing aviation news. They examine concerns regarding recent changes to helicopter routes around Washington, D.C., and discuss the U.S. Air Force’s decision to select two airframe partners for its Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, while noting the strategic move to decouple autonomy software. The discussion also touches upon Canada’s potential interest in the Global Combat Air Program and the ongoing efforts to harmonize aircraft certification rules between the FAA and EASA. Finally, the group addresses the persistent issue of runway incursions, emphasizing the urgent need for modernization within the national air traffic control system.

898 Heart Aerospace Hybrid-Electric Regional Aircraft

Jun 24, 20261h 25mSummary

In episode 898 of the Airplane Geeks Podcast, the hosts sit down with Anders Forslund, co-founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace, to discuss the company’s ambitious mission to revolutionize regional aviation. Heart Aerospace is currently developing the ES-30, a hybrid-electric, 30-seat commercial aircraft designed to make short-haul flights more sustainable and cost-effective. The conversation centers on the company’s full-scale demonstrator, the X1, which serves as a critical milestone in proving the viability of their technology. Forslund provides insight into the strategic decision to pursue a hybrid-electric model rather than a purely battery-powered one. He explains that while battery technology is advancing, the hybrid approach addresses necessary IFR reserves and operational flexibility, allowing for a 40 percent reduction in operating costs compared to traditional turboprops. The discussion covers the technical challenges of building a clean-sheet aircraft, the importance of assembling a team from diverse high-tech backgrounds, and the goal of restoring regional air connectivity. Forslund emphasizes that by focusing on sound unit economics and modernizing aircraft architecture, Heart Aerospace aims to lower the cost of air travel and inspire the next generation of engineers to push the boundaries of aviation.

897 U.S. Aircraft Supporting NATO

Jun 17, 20261h 24mSummary

In this episode of the Airplane Geeks Podcast, the hosts step away from their usual format to prioritize listener-submitted topics before diving into the week’s aviation news. The conversation kicks off with a technical discussion on the FAA framework for owner-produced aircraft parts, followed by a lighthearted look at an airport-themed photo gallery created by a listener. The group also explores the world of aviation-inspired music and delves into a fascinating technical breakdown of how the NTSB utilizes audio spectrograms to analyze flight data and mechanical performance in incident investigations. The hosts further engage in a discussion regarding airline passenger rights, highlighting a recent traveler's frustration with malfunctioning seating and the difficulties of navigating corporate compensation policies. Later, they take a brief trip back to basics by deciphering Roman numerals in honor of a listener's clever episode titling. The episode concludes with an analysis of the U.S. government’s plan to reduce the number of aircraft dedicated to NATO operations in Europe, sparking a thoughtful debate among the hosts about national defense responsibilities and the evolving nature of international military alliances.