Pilots Step Up After Devastating Texas Floods

Hello! Sorry for the delay—I’ve been heads-down prepping for AirVenture 2025 and just now had a chance to get this week’s newsletter out. But as always, aviation news doesn’t take a break. If you’ll be at Oshkosh this year, swing by the Flybuyer booth and say hello—we’ll be at #4133 in Hangar D. 🛩️

-Rob Roy

In today’s email:

• Texas Pilots Mobilize to Bring Urgent Aid to Flood Victims

• Around the Skies: Mustang Mania takes flight in Bremerton, Memphis Airport honors FedEx founder, Teen pilot crushes solo goal, Natilus unveils bold cabin design, RAF museum unlocks hidden history, 2025’s most mysterious jet deal, A new era of wildfire aviation begins

• PilotTube: World’s Fastest Single Engine Turboprop

THE BUSINESS OF AVIATION

Aviation Responds: Volunteers Bring Aid to Isolated Communities

In the wake of historic flash flooding across Texas Hill Country over the Fourth of July weekend, general aviation pilots and operators have mobilized to bring aid, supplies and support to affected communities. With roads washed out and entire towns cut off, aviation has become a critical lifeline. Operation Airdrop, a Texas-based nonprofit founded in 2017 after Hurricane Harvey, was among the first to respond. The group quickly established supply hubs at Burnet Municipal Airport (KBMQ) and Dallas-area Addison Airport (KADS), where volunteers began flying in urgently needed items like chain saws, bleach, gloves, buckets and bottled water.

At the height of the effort, the Million Air FBO at Addison reported handing over $50,000 in donated goods and even contributed $5,000 in fuel to keep the mission flying. Supplies were flown into the Hill Country, then distributed by volunteers to the hardest-hit areas including Kerr County, where flash floods claimed more than 100 lives and left scores missing. Operation Airdrop continues to coordinate with local officials and residents to meet changing needs, with donated goods arriving daily and distributed just as quickly.

Joining the effort is Rock Solid Aviation, a Southeast Texas flight school offering free flights to families needing transportation to the Kerrville area. Based out of Beaumont and Orange, the flight school has made its aircraft and pilots available to reduce travel time for those grieving or searching for loved ones. What might be a five- or six-hour drive during an already overwhelming time can now be completed in under two hours by air. The service is completely free and available 24/7 to families in need.

National aviation charity Airlink has also joined the response, transporting volunteer search-and-rescue teams and emergency planners through airline partnerships with United, American, JetBlue and Southwest. With many communities only accessible by air due to road damage, general aviation has again proven essential for rapid response. In the face of disaster, the aviation community rose not just with aircraft but with heart—delivering hope, help and a powerful reminder that humanity is never grounded.

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AROUND THE SKIES

🛩️ The third annual Bremerton Air Show lands July 12–13 with a thunderous theme—Mustang Mania. Ten P-51 Mustangs, including stars like Grim Reaper and Valhalla, will take to the skies alongside WWII icons like Ye Olde Pub and modern military demos from KC-135 and C-17 crews. Hosted at Bremerton National Airport, the show also features a Stearman wing walker, food, family fun and vintage flair. Proceeds help keep warbirds flying and organizers promise the best year yet.

🛩️ Memphis International Airport is set to receive a new name in honor of FedEx founder Fred Smith, who passed away at 80. Smith launched FedEx in 1973 with just 14 Dassault Falcons and built it into a global shipping giant with Memphis at its core. The airport authority unanimously approved the renaming to recognize his lasting impact on the city, the airport and global commerce. While regulatory steps remain, the move celebrates a hometown visionary whose legacy helped put Memphis on the map.

🛩️ While most teens are dreaming of cars, Sullivan Vande Voort spent his 16th birthday soloing 13 airplanes. From a 1940 Meyers OTW to a modern Cirrus SR-20, he flew 4.2 hours before noon then clocked in for work at the airport. Backed by his family’s flight school and a community of mentors, Sullivan turned a personal goal into an unforgettable display of passion and precision. Next up: his driver’s license and a private pilot certificate at 17.

🛩️ Natilus has revealed the interior of its Horizon blended-wing-body airliner, a 200-seat design set to rival the 737 Max and A320neo by the 2030s. With 40% more cabin space and 25% less fuel burn, Horizon offers club seating, wide economy seats and private video pods. Most seats lack windows but a smart lighting system and screens will simulate the outside world. It’s a bold new take on air travel that blends comfort with next-gen efficiency.

🛩️ The RAF Museum is embarking on a massive mission to relocate more than 50,000 rarely seen artifacts to its Midlands location where many will go on public display for the first time. Dubbed “The Crate Escape,” the effort involves aircraft, parts, logbooks, medals and more—each piece carefully cataloged and packed by hand. The move aims to unlock hidden stories of courage and innovation from the RAF’s storied past.

🛩️A mystery customer has placed a massive order with Bombardier for up to 120 Challenger and Global business jets, worth as much as $4 billion. The deal includes 50 firm orders with deliveries starting in 2027, plus options for 70 more and a full maintenance package. Bombardier says the buyer is preparing to launch a new service but details remain tightly under wraps. With ranges from 3,400 to 8,000 nautical miles, the fleet hints at big plans ahead—even if we don’t yet know who’s behind them.

🛩️ Cal Fire is partnering with Skyryse to explore optionally piloted firefighting aircraft powered by the company’s SkyOS system. The tech replaces traditional controls with a digital interface, allowing single-pilot or remote operations. Already being tested on a Black Hawk, SkyOS could help Cal Fire fight fires faster, safer and with fewer pilots.

PilotTube

Turbulence is no ordinary build—it’s a quest to create the world’s fastest single-engine turboprop. The series dives into the aircraft’s origins, ambitious modifications and the relentless pursuit of speed.

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