🖐️ Welcome, Aviators

Buckle up, buttercup. This week we've got Cold War relics strutting into Oshkosh like they still pay rent, Kawasaki reviving piston engines for the hydrogen hipster crowd, and the FAA cutting services while calling it innovation.

Meanwhile, another town realized (too late) that airports are noisy, and the Army’s 1950s plan to put soldiers on flying lawnmowers resurfaces to remind us that questionable ideas are timeless. Enjoy the turbulence.

🤝 Community and Events

Dragon Lady—NOT my wife—Coming to AirVenture

The Air Force is dragging the U-2 Dragon Lady—aka your granddad’s spy plane—out of the Cold War vault and into Oshkosh this July. Still flying at 70,000 feet and landing like a diva with a chase car, she’s old, dramatic, and somehow still cooler than most modern jets.

Read the story at GlobalAir.com

Hydrogen-Powered Piston Engine in 2030—Because Why Not Confuse Everyone at Once

In a move that defies the jet-age trend, Kawasaki is aiming to certify a new piston engine by 2030. While others chase electric dreams, Kawasaki is betting on hydrogen-powered pistons to keep the propeller era alive. Because nothing says 'future of aviation' like reviving mid-20th-century technology with a modern twist.

Read the story at AIN Online

⚖️ Regulatory Updates

FAA to Pilots: 'You're on Your Own'—Shutting Down Flight Service Frequencies

The FAA has decided to yank dozens of Flight Service frequencies because apparently pilots don’t need to talk to anyone anymore. Citing low usage (and probably high annoyance), they’re retiring the airwaves like it’s 1999.

So if you were planning to call Flight Watch on 122.0… don’t. It ghosted you.

Read the story at Flying Magazine

🛫 Airport News

Another Day, Another Town Shocked That Airports Make Noise

Big win for general aviation!

The Town of Superior just blew $750,000 trying to sue an airport... for doing airport things. A judge swiftly reminded them that the FAA, not angry homeowners, controls the skies. Their legal masterpiece? Dismissed with enthusiasm.

Turns out, building houses next to a busy Class D airport and then complaining about noise is not a winning strategy. Congrats to Superior—they’ve now set a legal precedent and lit a small bonfire of taxpayer money. Stay tuned: more noise, lawsuits, and ballot drama incoming.

Read the story on Reddit

🤯 Weird

HZ-1 Aerocycle: The Original 'Hold My Beer' Aviation Project

The HZ-1 Aerocycle was the Army’s brilliant mid-century attempt to make soldiers fly standing on a lawnmower.

The idea? Strap a single trooper on top of a giant rotor blade platform and hope physics is feeling generous that day. Unsurprisingly, the test flights often ended in chaos, bruises, and probably some very awkward paperwork.

Shockingly, balancing above spinning death discs didn’t catch on—and the Aerocycle was quietly grounded before it could decapitate patriotism.

Read the story at AvGeekery

That’s your briefing.

And that’s the end of this joyride, folks. Engines off, sarcasm levels critical, and common sense still on indefinite delay.

Until next time, keep your frequencies clear, your penguins secured, and your lawnmower helicopters strictly theoretical. 🛩️💥

Love ya, mean it.

-Tony

P.S.

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