Hydrogen propulsion and the race to replace jet fuel
Hydrogen propulsion for aircraft is advancing fast, with fuel cell and combustion approaches competing to replace jet fuel.
Cleared Direct
Aviation technology analysis with Vector. Electric aircraft, avionics advances, eVTOL certification, satellite connectivity, and the engineering innovations shaping the future of flight.
Reliable Robotics and the race to certify autonomous cargo planes
Reliable Robotics is pursuing FAA certification to fly unmanned Cessna Caravans for cargo, using remote pilots and triple-redundant systems.
The Garmin GFC five hundred autopilot and what it means for legacy aircraft
The Garmin GFC 500 autopilot brings attitude-based digital flight control and stability protection to legacy piston aircraft at a total installed cost of $15,000–$30,000.
The Garmin GI two seventy-five and the quiet revolution in legacy cockpit upgrades
The Garmin GI 275 drops a solid-state glass display into a standard round gauge cutout, giving legacy aircraft modern instrumentation without a full panel retrofit.
Archer Midnight enters final conformity testing as eVTOL certification heats up
Archer Aviation's Midnight eVTOL enters late-stage FAA conformity testing while Garmin and hydrogen propulsion milestones signal real progress in aviation tech.
Electra Aero and the hybrid-electric blown-lift aircraft
Electra Aero's hybrid-electric blown-lift aircraft promises 150-foot takeoffs, 500-mile range, and nine-passenger capacity using existing small airports.
Hydrogen fuel cell propulsion and the race to replace avgas
Hydrogen fuel cells may replace avgas in aviation, with flight-tested technology and a realistic timeline stretching from 2029 for regional aircraft to the late 2030s for GA.
The Garmin G3X Touch Certified and the retrofit glass panel revolution
The Garmin G3X Touch Certified brings experimental-market glass panel technology to legacy aircraft for under $25,000 installed.
Electra dot aero's EL9 and the return of blown-lift flight
Electra's EL9 combines 1950s blown-lift aerodynamics with modern electric motors to create a 9-seat hybrid that takes off in 150 feet.
Garmin Autoland and the red button that flies you home
Garmin Autoland lets any passenger press one button to land a turboprop or light jet safely during pilot incapacitation.
NASA's X fifty-nine QueSST and the quiet return of supersonic flight over land
NASA's X-59 QueSST aims to replace the sonic boom with a soft thump, potentially ending the 1973 ban on civil supersonic flight over land.
The week ahead in eVTOL type certification — Joby, Archer, and the FAA's powered lift pivot
Joby and Archer are deep into FAA powered lift type certification under the new SFAR—here's what the milestones actually mean for pilots.
ADS-B In - what it gives you beyond compliance
ADS-B In delivers free traffic and weather data to your cockpit, but only pilots who understand its limitations get the full benefit.
Garmin autopilot technology and how it changed GA safety
How Garmin's GFC 700 autopilot and Electronic Stability Protection are measurably reducing fatal loss-of-control accidents in general aviation.
Joby Aviation and the eVTOL certification race
Joby Aviation leads the eVTOL certification race with over 70% of FAA requirements complete and a full Part 23 type certificate in sight.
Starlink for aviation - satellite internet in the cockpit
Starlink is bringing low-latency broadband to aircraft, transforming cockpit connectivity from airlines to business jets.
The current state of electric flight - who is actually flying
A realistic look at who is actually flying electric airplanes today, from certified trainers to eVTOL prototypes.