Aviation technology analysis with Vector. Electric aircraft, avionics advances, eVTOL certification, satellite connectivity, and the engineering innovations shaping the future of flight.
The Stratolaunch Roc - the world's largest operational aircraft - serves as a reusable launch platform for hypersonic test vehicles, accelerating U.S. defense research at lower cost per flight.
Electra Aero's blown-lift eSTOL technology can operate from runways as short as 150 feet, positioning it as a practical alternative to eVTOL for regional air mobility.
Electra's hybrid-electric EL9 uses blown lift to take off in 150 feet - here's the physics and why it could reshape regional flight.
Vast's Haven-1, the first privately owned space station, is in ground testing in Long Beach ahead of its planned crewed Falcon 9 launch.
How Boom Supersonic's XB-1 became the first American civil jet to break the sound barrier - and why the real test is the engine.
How the Avidyne IFD540's slide-in design challenged Garmin's grip on certified IFR navigators - and what it means for your panel upgrade.
How WAAS turns ordinary GPS into ILS-grade LPV approaches at thousands of small airports - no ground equipment required.
Sierra Space's Dream Chaser spaceplane is finally nearing its first orbital flight - a runway-landing cargo vehicle decades in the making.
Whisper Aero is attacking aircraft noise by shifting it above human hearing - here's the physics, the business, and why it matters for pilots.
The FAA's Part 108 rule would make beyond-visual-line-of-sight drone flight routine - here's what it means for pilots.
The uAvionix AV-30 replaces aging vacuum gyros with a solid-state, two-inch display - here's what it does, costs, and where it falls short.
SpaceX's next Starship test flight is the biggest event in flight this week - here's what to watch and why it matters.
Garmin Smart Glide is a one-button avionics feature that flies your best glide and finds a runway during an engine-out emergency.
EHang's EH216-S is the first passenger-carrying autonomous aircraft to earn a full type certificate, already flying tourists in China.
Why Joby Aviation leads the eVTOL race - and the battery, infrastructure, and certification hurdles still standing between its air taxi and paying passengers.
Joby Aviation leads the eVTOL race with 1,000+ test flights, Toyota backing, and a five-seat air taxi nearing FAA certification.
Wisk Aero is building a fully autonomous electric air taxi backed by Boeing, with no pilot on board at all.
Airbus ZEROe aims to deliver hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft by 2035, replacing jet fuel with a radical new energy source.
The Garmin GFC 500 autopilot brings airline-grade envelope protection to piston singles for $17K–$28K installed.
EFVS lets pilots land using sensor imagery instead of natural vision, fundamentally changing how weather minimums work.