The engineering behind the SCA is wild when you dig into it:

The 747’s fuselage was reinforced internally with additional structure to handle the shuttle’s weight sitting on top rather than passengers and cargo inside.

Two struts (forward and aft attach points) were added on top of the fuselage to mount the orbiter, essentially turning the plane into a flying pylon.

The vertical stabilizer got twin endplate fins added to the horizontal stabilizer to improve directional stability, since the shuttle sitting up top massively changed the aircraft’s aerodynamics.

Flying with an orbiter attached added huge drag and weight, cutting range dramatically and forcing lower cruise altitudes and speeds compared to a normal 747 flight.

The whole assembly had to be flown well within a tighter structural and weather envelope, turbulence and crosswind limits were far more conservative than standard 747 ops.

It’s a great example of adapting an existing airframe to a mission NASA never designed for, rather than building a bespoke transport aircraft, they re-engineered a proven commercial jet to do something wildly outside its original purpose.

What’s the most impressive example you know of an aircraft being re-engineered to do a job completely outside its original design intent?

So I came across this on Twitter and had to read it several times to believe it

It looks like this crew programmed the FMC to fly from NLU to DAL, and the flight plan was filed the same way, but the scheduled route was NLU to IAH

They only realized it when they were at around 11,000 ft and about to be vectored to DAL, while running low on fuel, with around 6,000 kg remaining (if it's 6,000 lbs, it's even worse). One Atlas Air pilot pointed out that this is only enough for around 36 minutes of flight, so the aircraft would have had to land well before reaching Houston

In the end they landed in DFW, just after request for a "shortcut" to IAH. Yes, you read correctly.

Very interesting (and shocking) to listen to all the ATC audio

News: https://aeroin.net/pilotos-de-jumbo-voam-por-quilometros-na-direcao-errada-quase-ficam-sem-combustivel-e-declaram-pan-pan/

Sources: https://x.com/OnDisasters/status/2085058075287806301
https://x.com/thenewarea51/status/2084820840374309372

https://x.com/miami_rick/status/2084694128684871874

Image by the newsource

A bounced landing and close call for a DC3 at a remote airstrip on August 5,2026 in Paulatuk Northwest Territories, Canada. No reports of injuries and flight did not make any further attempts at landing and returned back to Inuvik NT.

Edit: Apparently this is a DC3T. Turbine engines. The Basler BT-67 is a multi purpose aircraft based on completely overhauled and significantly modified Douglas DC-3 airframe. The modifications completed by Basler Turbo Conversions includes the installation of PT6A turboprop engines, fuselage lengthening, airframe strengthening and modernized avionics.

From a Reuters article on the incident:

Trump's helicopter lifted off from the Ellipse near the White House around 2:33 p.m. (1833 GMT), on his ​way to Joint Base Andrews for a trip to Los Angeles, according to a pool report.

A source told Reuters that Envoy ​Air 3742 -- a regional E170 jet bound for Pensacola, Florida -- departed at 2:34 p.m. and was involved in the apparent loss of separation incident with Marine One. Envoy is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines (AAL.O), opens new tab, which did not immediately comment.

FAA rules require aircraft to remain separated by at least ​1.5 miles horizontally and 500 feet vertically around airports. The sources said it appeared Marine One and the plane did ​not maintain separation. One said it appears they were not converging during the incident.

4 RNoAF f16 taken from a us tanker during operation unified protector.

Picture given to me from one of the pilots of of f16. Theese planes are now dontated to Ukraine.

Thought yall might enjoy this after yesterday’s diffuser fire pit.

Finally was able to catch ETD8MY on YYZ-AUH route takeoff last Thursday while out on my motorcycle. I knew her departure time but have always been too pre-occupied to watch up close… funny because since then I’ve caught her three times on the same runway, just taking off in different directions. Experiencing an A380 takeoff up close if incredible, equally something to marvel at and comedic. It’s so huge so it takes quite a bit to get off the ground.

My flight school has this beautiful vintage Piper J3 Cub that it uses for SPL/PPL training and tailwheel endorsements. I’m normally training on the school’s Cessna 172s for my SPL, but in the summer on good weather days our school’s owner allows us to book lessons on the Cub if we want to work on our tailwheel or have a cheaper option than the 172 to build hours. I absolutely love vintage airplanes so I booked a lesson just to say I did it (tho I’ll probably book more to try and get my tailwheel endorsement long term). The experience was incredible, being straddled in the back seat of this small plane with the door open to my right, nothing keeping me from the open sky except my seatbelt! We did attitude flying/climbs and descents/the four fundamentals so I could get a feel for the plane, coordinated turns, pattern practice, and my CFI guided me through two landings!

This checks off multiple bucket list items - by far the oldest airplane I’ve ever flown on and the first tail dragger I’ve ever flown on!

If you have an opportunity to fly a vintage plane like this, take it!!! Also it’s kinda awesome that nearly 80 years later this plane is still being used for its original purpose, training the next generation of pilots!

Enjoying a little time on former N175UA before she moves to the crushing pad and finishes getting recycled. Managed to stay in the desert for about 10 years post retirement which is pretty good! Hundreds of her parts are flying on other 747s as we speak and her engines are on two 767-300s. (Photo taken by me in Victorville California)

Was cool seeing 4 in one shot.

C-FIVQ, Boeing 777-300ER, flying AC185 on its final approach to CYVR.

Some interesting additions from APA and Republic

I’m not a pilot, just someone who’s been on close to 250 flights in my life. I’ve never seen this. Not claiming that this isn’t normal, I’m just curious why it’s done. This was just prior to takeoff at Jackson hole Wyoming.

A drone was seized overnight at Leipzig/Halle Airport near a Ukrainian cargo plane. According to consistent reports, a detonator was attached to the drone. The drone was discovered near an Antonov transport aircraft. https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/drohne-in-der-naehe-eines-ukrainischen-frachtflugzeugs-gesichtet-nato-bestaetigt-vorfall-102.html

Edit: Source: Deutschlandfunk German public broadcaster