On The Fly…

Five U.S. soldiers were killed in the crash of a Black Hawk helicopter in central Honduras Wednesday. The helicopter was on a night training exercise as part of its deployment to Joint Task Force Bravo, which conducts training, counter-drug and humanitarian missions in Central and South America and the Caribbean…

A security sweep of Chicago O’Hare and Midway Airport workers resulted in criminal charges against 25 and the cancellation of 553 security clearances. The workers included a flight attendant, as well as ground-service workers and food vendors. Those charged had either lied about previous criminal histories or used bogus Social Security numbers…

The Marine Corps plans a dazzling display for its biennial Cherry Point, N.C. air show. This year’s show, May 2-4, will mark the 100th anniversary of powered flight with aerobatic displays, a night show of afterburners, jet-assisted takeoffs and pyrotechnics and, of course, the Blue Angels…

The 39th Annual Hayward Proficiency Air Race May 15-17 pits pilots against each other and themselves in a test of navigation, flight planning and pilotage skills. Before taking off on the two legs from Hayward, Calif., to Bakersfield, Calif., and on to Bullhead City, Ariz., pilots must estimate their time and fuel burn and hit checkpoints along the way…

A broken throttle cable began the final flight and ended a dream for a Burlington, Iowa, man. The cable broke on the Piper J3 as Donald Gugeler was pouring an additive into the running engine. The broken cable set the throttle to full power and it took off on its own, crashing about three minutes later. Gugeler, 80, wanted to give the plane to his son…

Forest Service water bombers are a serious safety hazard according to the former head of the U.S. Forest Service. Jim Lyons was commenting on investigations into the fatal crashes of a C-130 and PB4Y-2 during separate operations last summer. Both aircraft were more than 40 years old…

Israeli gamblers will have to go underground instead of reach for the skies after the high court rejected a bid by a company to operate a casino airplane. The idea was to take off, head for international airspace and let the good times roll. The court rejected the plan as an attempt to bypass the law and “inflict harm on Israeli society.”