Lawrence Garrett

Reston

Web Editor at American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Web editor for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics since 2007. Interests include aerospace, history, politics, and sports.

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Articles

Pilatus: the Pioneer Unlocking Business Aviation in Japan

1 week ago | aiaa.org | Lawrence Garrett

Aerotime reports, “In 2023, after months of meticulous planning, the founder and CEO of Japanese business aircraft operator OpenSky, Shigeto Honda, took delivery of Japan’s first Pilatus PC-12 NGX turboprop and PC-24 jet. The arrival of the two Pilatus private aircraft brought Honda’s vision to life, enhancing the development of Japan’s private and business travel market by providing clients with access to previously underserved routes across the country.” Full Story (Aerotime)
Blue Origin Launches All-Woman Crew on NS-31 Mission

1 week ago | aiaa.org | Lawrence Garrett

Space News reports, “Blue Shepard launched six women, including a pop star and TV show host, on a suborbital flight of the company’s New Shepard vehicle April 14. New Shepard lifted off at 9:30 a.m. Eastern from the company’s Launch Site One in West Texas after a problem-free countdown.
AIAA Statement on Blue Origin’s Successful NS-31 Mission

1 week ago | aiaa.org | Lawrence Garrett

April 14, 2025 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) issued the following statement from AIAA CEO Clay Mowry:“Congratulations to Blue Origin on its 11th human flight as the all-female crew roared beyond the Kármán line, a successful NS-31 mission. It’s an exciting time in history, witnessing the number of commercial astronauts growing to more than 50 people through the New Shepard program.
Museum of Flight’s Space Design Contest Now Open to All Ages

1 week ago | aiaa.org | Lawrence Garrett

Vintage Aviation News reports, “The Museum of Flight is now accepting entries into their all ages Spacesuit Design Contest. With the top design in each of the 4 age categories being showcased at the Museum’s ‘Fashion in Flight’ event on November 8, 2025.”Full Story (Vintage Aviation News)
Textron Unveils Newest CJ4 Upgrades

1 week ago | aiaa.org | Lawrence Garrett

Flying Magazine reports, “Textron Aviation recently unveiled its latest new variant, the Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen 3, which dovetails nicely with the 15th anniversary of the service entry of the first of the CJ4 line. More than 450 CJ4s are currently in operation, according to Textron. The Gen 3 version is expected to enter service next year.” Full Story (Flying Magazine)
NASA’s Deep Space Network to Add New Dish in Australia to Improve Communications with Spacecraft

1 week ago | aiaa.org | Lawrence Garrett

SPACE reports that NASA’s Deep Space Network is getting a new dish. This one will be at the DSN facility in Canberra, Australia. “The new dish, Deep Space Station 33, will be a 112-foot-wide (34 meters) multifrequency beam-waveguide antenna (BWG), according to the NASA statement.”Full Story (SPACE)
SkyDrive Flies Air Taxi Prototype in Osaka

1 week ago | aiaa.org | Lawrence Garrett

Aviation International News reports that on April 9, SkyDrive’s three-seat SD-05 eVTOL aircraft prototype made its first public demonstration flights at the World Expo 2025 event in Osaka, Japan. “ During the flight, which lasted about four minutes, the remotely piloted and highly automated aircraft reached an altitude of 5 meters, according to SkyDrive.” Full Story (Aviation International News) Video Public Flight of SKYDRIVE Model SD-05 (SkyDrive, Inc; YouTube)
AIAA Announces 2025 Design/Build/Fly (DBF) Competition Winners

1 week ago | aiaa.org | Lawrence Garrett

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 14, 2025 – Tucson, Ariz. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) announced the winners of the 29th Annual AIAA Design/Build/Fly (DBF) Competition: First Place ($3,000): FH Joanneum, Graz, Austria Second Place ($2,000): Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Australia Third Place ($1,500): Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, Calif.
US Army Begins 3D Printing Swarms of Small Aerial Drones

2 weeks ago | aiaa.org | Lawrence Garrett

Breaking Defense reports, “The US Army has begun 3D printing swarms of small aerial drones for soldiers to train against, in anticipation of a decision on how to proceed with an initiative to cheaply and quickly mass produce drones, according to two senior Army leaders.”Full Story (Breaking Defense)
SpaceX Set to Launch Next Dragon Cargo Ship for NASA on April 21

2 weeks ago | aiaa.org | Lawrence Garrett

SPACE reports, “NASA’s next special delivery to the International Space Station has a launch date, but it’s going to be one for early-birds. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch an uncrewed Dragon cargo ship packed with tons of supplies on Monday, April 21, from the historic Pad 39A of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Liftoff is set for 4:15 a.m. EDT (0815 GMT), making it a predawn launch.” Full Story (SPACE)