Civil Aviation Goes Supersonic

Good morning! I hope you’re as excited as I am for Thanksgiving. This past year has been a whirlwind for my family and me, and we have much to be thankful for. Although I won’t be doing any flying this week, I’m looking forward to my favorite Black Friday activity—heading to the local National Forest to cut down our Christmas tree (the permit only costs $5 and it sure beats waiting in line at some big-box store). 🛩️

-Rob Roy

In today’s email:

• Beyond the Concorde

• Around the Skies: FAA expands BasicMed rules, NASA’s space budget squeeze, Hudson hero hangs it up, Backcountry pilots restore runway, “Fly” electric VTOLs in MFS2024, Amazon jet’s muddy mishap

• PilotTube: The Largest Thing to Ever Fly

THE BUSINESS OF AVIATION

Dawn Aerospace Brings Supersonic to Civil Aviation

After two decades of sonic silence since Concorde’s retirement, a civil aircraft has broken the sound barrier again—but this time, it’s not carrying passengers. Dawn Aerospace’s Mk-II Aurora, a rocket-powered spaceplane, recently reached Mach 1.1 during a test flight in New Zealand, surpassing its Mach 1.05 target. With a record-breaking climb rate and an altitude of 82,500 feet—high enough to see Earth’s curvature—the Mk-II proved that civil aviation is pushing into thrilling new territory.

CEO Stefan Powell highlighted that the Aurora isn’t just breaking records; it’s laying the foundation for hypersonic travel and space exploration. Designed to cruise at over 2,600 mph and reach altitudes of 62 miles, the Mk-II will pave the way for Dawn’s Mk-III, a two-stage orbital vehicle capable of deploying satellites and conducting research in zero gravity. It’s not your average aircraft; it’s the future of aviation and a bold step toward combining air travel with space exploration.

Dawn Aerospace isn’t stopping there. Its new division, Dawn Hypersonics, is targeting Mach 5 and beyond, with plans to fly commercial payloads globally in the near future. The Mk-II Aurora serves as a critical stepping stone, not only for advancing hypersonic flight but also for unlocking new possibilities in space exploration and atmospheric research. With competitors such as Boom Supersonic focused on passenger airliners, Dawn is carving its own path, blending cutting-edge aviation with orbital ambitions and pushing the limits of what’s possible in high-speed flight.

With milestones like these, Dawn Aerospace is proving that supersonic travel isn’t just making a comeback. It’s reaching new heights and taking civil aviation into the stratosphere with a rocket-powered edge.

Don’t Keep Flybuyer a Secret!

Help me grow the newsletter by sending this link to your pilot friends!

AROUND THE SKIES

🛩️ The FAA upgraded BasicMed Certification, now allowing pilots to fly aircraft with a takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds and carry six passengers. Part of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, this update doubles the weight limit and expands safety pilot privileges.

🛩️ NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is laying off another 5% of its staff (300+ employees) due to budget cuts, bringing total 2024 reductions to 13%. Despite the cuts, JPL’s director is optimistic this will be the last for now. With tighter budgets, even high-profile missions like Mars Sample Return and the Chandra Observatory might face the axe. It seems not even space exploration is immune to budget crunches.

🛩️ Jeff Skiles, the “Miracle on the Hudson” first officer, has retired after decades in the cockpit. While Sully retired in 2010, Skiles continued flying, ending his career as a 787 captain. His final flight landed smoothly on a paved runway (no bodies of water were involved).

🛩️ A team of Utah Backcountry Pilots hiked into the wilderness to fix the flood-damaged Mexican Mountain airstrip. With vehicles banned, they hauled tools, dragged sleds of dirt and braved freezing nights, earning the nickname “sled dogs.” From tamping repairs to packing out supplies on horseback, these pilots proved they’ll go above and beyond (literally) for backcountry aviation.

🛩️ Why wait for real life when you can pilot a futuristic air taxi from your couch? Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 now lets you “fly” electric VTOLs like Joby’s S4 and Jetson’s Jetson One—no FAA certification, physics degree or actual sky required.

🛩️ An Amazon Air Boeing 767 overshot Vancouver’s runway by 1,900 feet, citing wet conditions and flap issues for its muddy misadventure. Recovery crews, crane and makeshift roads were used to free the jet, while the runway remained closed for cleanup. No injuries were reported, but the landing gear is officially out of commission.

PilotTube

Once upon a time, airships weren’t just aircraft—they were flying luxury hotels, complete with piano lounges, dining rooms and staterooms. The Hindenburg was the epitome of airborne elegance. But one fiery moment grounded the dream of cruise ships in the sky forever… or did it?

Have an Aircraft I Can Film?
I’m on the lookout for airplanes to review for the Flybuyer YouTube channel (coming soon). If you own, fly or have access to a piston, turbine, business jet, helicopter, seaplane, bush plane, warbird or blimp I can film, please fill out this form!

Follow @flybuyer on Instagram!