Aviation Week's Check 6 Podcast

Check 6 Revisits: 7J7, Boeing’s Lost Airliner

Boeing never built the 7J7, but its legacy continues to be felt to this day. Listen in to hear how technology once studied for the highly advanced program could re-emerge on the company’s next new airplane almost 40 years later....

Shielding The Skies: Missile Defense In A Changing World

Aviation Week editors Brian Everstine, Steve Trimble and Tony Osborne assess the recent performance of Israel’s air and missile defense umbrella and discuss new missile defense technology needed to address potential and evolving threats.

787 Allegations: Boeing Over A Barrel

Boeing acknowledges that production-quality issues meant the first 1,000 or so 787s delivered did not meet its specifications. But it insists the productions issues have been corrected, and that the in-service fleet is not at risk.  A Boeing engineer has...

How To Fix Boeing

Industry analysts Ron Epstein and Richard Aboulafia join Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo and Michael Bruno to discuss the momentous challenges facing Boeing’s next leader—and who that leader might be. Read: The Quarter When Boeing Broke

China's Reclusive Stealth Bomber

The paper trail on the secretive Xian H-20 had gone cold for a couple years, but recent comments from a PLAAF general suggest the program is coming along. Aviation Week Network's Guy Norris, Steve Trimble and Matt Jouppi dissect what...

Making Sense Of Boeing's Leadership Shake-Up

On March 25 Boeing signaled the departures of President and CEO Dave Calhoun, Chairman Larry Kellner and Stan Deal, president of its Commercial Airplanes division. Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Michael Bruno, Jens Flottau and Guy Norris break down the seismic...

Deep Dive Into SpaceX's Latest Starship Flight Test

Listen in as former Space Shuttle program manager Wayne Hale joins Aviation Week's Irene Klotz and Guy Norris to unpack Starship's third flight test.

Will China Take The Lead In AAM?

Having seized the pole position in electric vehicles, Chinese industry is racing ahead in advanced air mobility. SMG Consulting's Sergio Cecutta joins Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Graham Warwick and Ben Goldstein to discuss how the market is developing. Read Ben's...

Why Did Boeing Pull A U-Turn On Spirit Aerosystems?

Talks to acquire troubled aerostructures supplier Spirit Aerosystems hold big implications for Boeing—and Airbus. Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Michael Bruno, Jens Flottau and Steve Trimble break it down.

Check 6 Revisits: Birth Of The Blackbird, YF-12 Reveal And What May Be Next

On the 60th anniversary of an LBJ press conference, Aviation Week editors revisit the moment Lockheed’s YF-12 was revealed for the very first time, and discuss what similarities that unveiling might have with recent developments of today... Check 6 Revisits...

Why Heli-Expo Has Gone Vertical

While Heli-Expo's organizers have moved to embrace eVTOLs, updates on a number of rotorcraft programs have stolen the headlines. Listen in to hear from Aviation Week's Guy Norris and Tony Osborne on the ground in Anaheim, California.

Comac Steals The Show At Singapore—Should Boeing And Airbus Be Worried?

Listen in as Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Christine Boynton, Chen Chuanren, Jens Flottau and Guy Norris at Singapore Airshow discuss Comac's starring role, the C919's prospects in today's market and what this could mean for the Airbus-Boeing duopoly.

What Defines Program Excellence In A&D? Program Managers Share Their Thoughts

Listen in as Aviation Week Network's Program Excellence Editor Mike McClary talks to two 2023 finalists from Honeywell and Skunk Works respectively as well as a reviewer from Raytheon about what goes into a winning submission. Nominations for the 2024 Aviation...

Lessons From F-16's Origins 50 Years Ago

A father of the design and development of the F-16 explains the unique philosophy and processes used to bring the most popular fighter of the post-Vietnam era from an idea to a finished product. Listen in as Gen. Michael Loh...

The Outlook With PwC: M&A Trends: Driving Value in Aerospace and Defense Deals

Listen in to this sponsored episode as PwC's Sarah Senyo and Michael Holland discuss current aerospace and defense M&A; trends, and insights related to driving deal value and synergies. Learn more here: Aerospace And Defense: US Deals 2024 Outlook

Airbus' Next Clean-Sheet Narrowbody—What We Know So Far

As Boeing's 737 program has dominated the headlines, more details are emerging about Airbus' plans for a new clean-sheet narrowbody, but when could it launch and will it generate significant emissions savings? Aviation Week editors are joined by Sash Tusa,...

At Supplier Conference, Boeing Is All The Buzz

Aviation Week Network's Joe Anselmo sits down with AeroDynamic Advisory's Richard Aboulafia, Aviation Week's Michael Bruno and Bank of America's Ron Epstein to discuss aerospace suppliers and investors—and what the new MAX woes could mean for their businesses.

Where Is Aerospace Heading? AIAA SciTech Provides Clues

Boeing’s MAX 9 Fiasco

As bad as it is for Boeing, it could have been a lot worse. Listen in as our editors discuss the Alaska Airlines midair blowout.

Deloitte On AAM | Sponsored By Deloitte

In this sponsored episode Deloitte’s Lindsey Berckman and Ajay Chavali share their insights into the rapidly growing advanced air mobility sector and where it’s heading.

Why Workforce Is Aerospace’s New Year’s Hangover

An Aviation Week/Siemens survey uncovers some disturbing trends as big labor negotiations loom. Aviation Week editors are joined by special guest Todd Tuthill, vice president of aerospace and defense at Siemens Digital Industries Software.

Overcoming Supply Chain Challenges | Sponsored By Siemens

In this sponsored podcast leaders from Siemens explain how aerospace companies can embrace digital transformation and invest in market intelligence to manage their supply chain. They break down the results of a Siemens supply chain survey conducted by Aviation Week....

Eight Surprises In 2023, Eight Predictions For 2024

As the year draws to a close, listen in as editors from across the Aviation Week Network reflect on 2023 and share what they think lies ahead in 2024.

Did Boeing Turn The Corner In 2023?

As Boeing elevates a possible successor to CEO Dave Calhoun, industry guru Richard Aboulafia joins Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Guy Norris and Sean Broderick to discuss the company's 2023 and its path forward. 

Check 6 With Accenture: How 2023 And 2024 Will Be Better And Worse For A&D

The year that ends Dec. 31, 2023, will hold some surprising results for the aerospace and defense industry, and the year ahead in 2024 will too.  In this sponsored podcast Aviation Week talks with experts from Accenture’s aerospace and defense practice...

Lifting The Veil On Area 51's Secret Flight-Test History

A new scholarly book takes the wraps off the secret flight-test history of the U.S. Air Force facility in the Nevada Test and Training Range like no one ever has before. Listen in as Aviation Week editors Guy Norris and...

On Its 25th Birthday, Was The International Space Station Worth It?

Former NASA chief Dan Goldin oversaw creation of the station. What does he think of it now? He speaks to Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo and Irene Klotz a quarter of a century on from the U.S. Unity module docking with...

Why India Won't Replace China In Commercial Aviation

India's airlines have ordered thousands of aircraft this year, but economic realities will keep it from replicating Beijing's growth miracle anytime soon.

Dubai Airshow—Boom Times Are Back

Emirates leads a long list of commercial aircraft orders announced at Dubai Airshow, but the fortunes of Airbus and Boeing differed.  Listen in as Aviation Week editors Christine Boynton, Guy Norris and Jens Flottau talk about the key developments in...

Defense Highlights At Dubai Airshow

Impressive fly-by-wire F-15 flying, unique displays from around the world and the absence of Israel are all discussed by Aviation Week editors Guy Norris, Tony Osborne and Steve Trimble at Dubai Airshow.  To read all our coverage download our ShowNews app.

Building A Resilient Defense Industrial Base

Aviation Week editors take a break from Day 2 of the A&D; Programs conference in Washington to tease out the intractable issues facing the industrial base—and some of the programs that are getting it right.

San Francisco To Tokyo—In One Hour!

A new rocket engine for military uses could be repurposed for Mach 9 air travel. Listen in as Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo and Graham Warwick talk with the founders of far-out startup Venus Aerospace, which has already raised more than...

Has China's Aviation Market Lost Its Luster?

As U.S. companies rethink their presence amid heightened political tensions, some in Europe are doubling down on the Chinese market. Listen in as Aerodynamic Advisory's Kevin Michaels joins Aviation Week editors to discuss how Western planemakers and suppliers are adjusting...

Can Business Aviation And Sustainability Co-Exist?

As NBAA BACE show opens, industry coalesces around a new campaign to reach net zero. Will it work? Listen in as Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Guy Norris and Lee Ann Shay discuss.

Inside The Tradeoffs That Created The F-35

Tom Burbage, the former executive vice president of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 program during its first decade of development, discusses what it took to get the world’s largest and most complex fighter program off and running with Aviation Week's Jen DiMascio...

Why Airbus Is Shaking Up Its Leadership

As Christian Scherer takes up the mantle of Airbus Commercial Aircraft business CEO, Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Jens Flottau and Tony Osborne are joined by Agency Partners' Sash Tusa to discuss why Airbus is making the change.

Explaining ‘Replicator’—A Plan For Thousands Of Drones

Capital Alpha Partners’ Byron Callan and Sam Bendett from the Center for Naval Analysis join Aviation Week editors Jen DiMascio and Steve Trimble to discuss challenges with the Pentagon’s initiative to manufacture masses of uncrewed vehicles learned from the war...

The Case For A New Boeing Airplane

Bank of America’s Ron Epstein talks with Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Graham Warwick and Michael Bruno about the business and technical implications of his call for Boeing to act fast.

The Latest On The B-21 And The U.S. Air Force

Record at the Air & Space Forces Association’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference, Aviation Week's Jen DiMascio, Brian Everstine and Garrett Reim discuss Northrop Grumman starting tests on the next stealth bomber and industry floating multiple concepts for collaborative combat...

Are Supersonic And Sustainability Mutually Exclusive?

Listen in as Aviation Week editors Joe Anselmo, Guy Norris and Graham Warwick discuss NASA’s recent contract awards to study technology for high-speed airliners flying faster than Mach 2—and the one supersonic project that is still pushing forward, Boom Supersonic....

Will There Ever Be A New Widebody?

As Russia pulls out of the CR929 and Airbus and Boeing sit on their hands, JetZero is showing that its radical new concept just might be for real. Aerodynamic Advisory's Richard Aboulafia joins Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Jens Flottau and...

AAM: Time To Put Up Or Shut Up

The advanced air mobility market is at a critical juncture—and the hard work is just beginning. Listen in as expert guests Sergio Cecutta and Kirsten Bartok Touw join Check 6 to discuss the latest developments and what comes next.

Why Amazon Could Be The Next Big Defense Prime

The differentiator in military programs is shifting from platforms to software. Defense industrial specialist Steve Grundman joins Aviation Week Network's Joe Anselmo, Graham Warwick and Jen DiMascio to explain the generational change—and how it will transform industry. 

The Outlook With PwC: Beyond Paris, The Future Of Aviation

In this sponsored podcast PwC's Scott Thompson shares his insights on what to expect in the second half of the year across commercial aviation and the supply chain.

Northrop’s Next-Gen Fighter Surprise And A Rocket Industry Makeover

Aviation Week's Jen DiMascio, Steve Trimble and Michael Bruno discuss Northrop Grumman’s exit from the U.S. Air Force’s competition to replace the F-22 Raptor and the implications of L3Harris Technologies’ acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne.

How The Small Satellite Market Continues To Take Off

A new report projects the smallsat industry will gather about $110.5 billion in market value over the next 10 years. Aviation Week's Jen DiMascio, Garrett Reim and Irene Klotz discuss the meaning of that growth, new technologies for flying satellites...

Is Boeing Building Something That Nobody Wants?

The Boeing 777X looks poised to hit the market at the perfect time, but its long-range variant has been a tough sell with airlines. Joe Anselmo, Jens Flottau, Guy Norris and Sean Broderick discuss the 777-8's prospects.

Understanding Air Power With Former USAF Futurist

The definition of air power has remained the same for more than a century, but the doctrine, tactics and technology continues to evolve. As the Russia-Ukraine war rages on and the U.S.-China rivalry heats up, Aviation Week invited the former...

Nervous In Newark—New York Air Transport In Crisis

Tens of thousands of flights have been delayed or canceled in the U.S. Northeast over the past few weeks. Airlines blame the FAA, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has his eye on airline performance—Aviation Week editors Lori Ranson, Christine Boynton, Sean...

How To Regulate Commercial Human Spaceflight

Aviation Week talks to George Nield, who led the FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation, about how to manage the risks of private space travel without harming innovation in the wake of the OceanGate deep-sea submersible loss.