Aviation Week's Check 6 Podcast

Flubs & Forecasts 2025-26 Edition

19 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the annual Flubs & Forecasts edition of Check 6, editors reflect on what they got right and wrong in 2025 and make their predictions for 2026. List...

Check 6 Revisits: RTX's Pratt & Whitney Marks 100 Years

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this special anniversary episode of Check 6 Revisits, Pratt & Whitney President Shane Eddy and Aviation Week editors Guy Norris and Christine Boynt...

Debriefing Defense In 2025

12 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The F-47, low-cost missiles, space superiority and more—listen in as Aviation Week's Robert Wall, Steve Trimble, Tony Osborne and Brian Everstine br...

As Airbus Strains, Boeing Gains

05 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Airbus will again miss its delivery target due to supplier quality problems as Boeing's turnaround takes another step forward. Aviation Week's Joe Ans...

Fighter Deals Afar Stir Dubai Airshow

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Listen is as Aviation Week's Steve Trimble, Tony Osborne and Robert Wall discuss what the defense industry was talking about at Dubai Airshow: from Sa...

Big Widebodies Back On The Agenda At Dubai Airshow

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Boeing and Airbus are both now looking at the feasibility of upsizing their largest twin-aisles at the behest of Emirates, which led the way for order...

Will The Comac C929 Be The Next New Widebody?

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Aviation Week editors are joined by guest columnist Richard Aboulafia of Aerodynamic Advisory to explore why Airbus and Boeing are dragging their ...

The Outlook With PwC: Navigating The New Federal Contracting Landscape

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From executive orders to oversight reforms, government contracting is shifting fast. In this sponsored podcast PwC experts join Aviation Week to break...

What's Going On At The Pentagon?

07 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Aviation Week's Robert Wall, Brian Everstine, Vivienne Machi and Steve Trimble discuss the impact of policy changes at the Pentagon before they break ...

Will Commercial Aerospace Blow Its Big Opportunity?

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Michael Bruno and Jens Flottau are joined by contributing columnist Kevin Michaels to record a podcast discussing whether...

Air Power Updates From KF-21 To Gripen To ShieldAI's X-BAT

24 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After a busy week of news, Aviation Week defense editors break down the latest developments in the fighter, trainer and uncrewed aircraft programs in ...

Inside Europe's Aftermarket—MRO Podcast Live From MRO Europe

17 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week Check 6 is hosting an episode from Aviation Week's MRO Podcast—European fleet growth, supply chain bottlenecks, AI, Gen Z, supplier contra...

Why Do Satellites Still Cost So Much?

10 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today's satellites are cheaper, but hardly cheap. Brad King, the CEO of a propulsion supplier Orbion Space Technology, joins us to explain why.

What Does Industry Really Think About A Next-Gen Aircraft? | Sponsored By McKinsey & Company

06 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rumors are flying about how aircraft OEMs are working on technology for the next generation of large commercial aircraft. But a recent survey of the c...

Regional Airlines' Age Problem

02 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Labor contracts prohibit many U.S. airlines from refreshing their regional jets with the latest technology. Does this open the door for a novel hybrid...

Inside Ukraine And Its Battle Against Russia's New Drone Challenge

24 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Aviation Week's Steve Trimble travelled to Ukraine where he participated in a military drone event and gained insights into how Russia's UAV operation...

What's Behind The Latest Boeing 777X Certification Delay?

19 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg warned that certification of the 777-9 will take longer still, editors break down how the certification process has cha...

DSEI Dissected—Drones, Directed Energy And Defense Tech

12 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The DSEI arms expo provided the backdrop for companies to unveil new weapons and for government buyers to drive home a sense of urgency to develop sys...

Check 6 Revisits: Atomic Ambitions—Destruction To Discovery

01 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the decades since two modified B-29s dropped atomic bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, bringing World War II to a close, there have been man...

How Politics Are Upending Airliner Orders

29 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is free trade over in commercial aviation, or it is all just smoke and mirrors? Aerodynamic Advisory's Richard Aboulafia joins Aviation Week's Joe Ans...

Getting The Hook

22 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Aviation Week's Brian Everstine, Robert Wall and Steve Trimble discuss U.S. naval aviation ahead of the annual Tailhook gathering and the surprise ann...

Why Everyone Is 'Not' Talking About Golden Dome

15 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Aviation Week's Vivienne Machi and Brian Everstine are back from their trip to the annual Space and Missile Defense conference. Here's what was new o...

How Starlink Became SpaceX's Cash Cow

08 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Starlink satellite venture's stunning success has brightened Elon Musk's bumpy year, but has awakened China. Listen in as Aviation Week's Joe Anse...

Why Are Cybersecurity Risks Rising For Aerospace And Defense? | Sponsored By Shift5

04 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As competition between the United States and adversary nations intensifies, cybersecurity risks for aerospace and defense are rising. Listen in to thi...

Is Kelly Ortberg Turning Boeing Around?

01 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Boeing's new CEO has been on the job for a year. Analyst Scott Mikus joins Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Sean Broderick and Michael Bruno to discuss ho...

Do NASA's Budget Cuts Spell Trouble For U.S. Aerospace? Mind The Gap!

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

NASA's normally vibrant presence at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics' showcase Aviation and Ascend events was cut to the bone th...

Air & Space Reimagined

22 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join the National Air and Space Museum's director Chris Browne and Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo for a private tour of the revamped museum in Washing...

What's The Buzz At RIAT? E-7 Wedgetail, Sixth-Gen Fighters And More

18 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Aviation Week's Robert Wall, Brian Everstine and Tony Osborne gather after the Chief of the Air Staff's Global Air & Space Chiefs' Conference on the e...

AI 171 Preliminary Crash Report Adds Facts, Raises Questions

15 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in as Aviation Week's Guy Norris and Sean Broderick join Jens Flottau to share their thoughts on the preliminary report into the first crash of...

How Can China's Grip On Pentagon Rare Earth Supply Chains Be Broken?

10 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rare earths are essential for a wide variety of defense systems to function, but the U.S. is largely reliant on China for these strategic metals. List...

Aerospace's Achilles Heel: Obsolescence | Sponsored By ACS

08 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

An industry known for its cutting-edge products is also saddled with old factories and out-of-date software. Listen in as two experts discuss the chal...

Check 6 Revisits: A Grand Canyon Crash And Its Impact On Aviation Safety

02 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With air traffic control (ATC) modernization in sharp focus, Aviation Week editors and former FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt dig back through our arc...

B-2s, Penetrator Bombs And Destroyed F-14s

25 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The U.S. followed Israel in striking Iranian nuclear infrastructure, launching the largest B-2 raid ever and dropping its biggest conventional bombs. ...

Boeing Absence Keeps Orders Subdued At An Unusual Paris Air Show

19 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For commercial aviation the Paris Air Show opened in somber mood following the AI 171 crash but there was still plenty for our editors to discuss. Lis...

The Israel-Iran War And Defense At Le Bourget

18 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in as Aviation Week's Robert Wall, Tony Osborne and Steve Trimble break down Israel's latest offensive and how that country's defense companies...

Boeing 787 Crash Casts A Shadow Over Le Bourget

15 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Paris Air Show is opening under a cloud following the tragic crash of an Air India Boeing 787 just days ago. Editors discuss what investigators wi...

Check 6 With Accenture: Europe's Defense Market Has Arrived

09 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Heading into the Paris Air Show, Accenture's John Schmidt and Joyce Kline delve into defense, supply chain and next-level manufacturing in this sponso...

The End Of NASA As We Know It?

06 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As the White House pulls Jared Isaacman's nomination, it wants to cut the space agency's budget back to pre-Apollo levels. Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo...

Behind The Curtain With Boeing's CEO

29 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Editors share their impressions of an in-depth conversation with Kelly Ortberg after the Boeing CEO spoke exclusively with Aviation Week. Read the ful...

What's In, What's Out At The Pentagon

23 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Aviation Week's Robert Wall, Brian Everstine and Steve Trimble discuss the pricey Golden Dome program and how the DOD is rebalancing its spending, cut...

Navigating Next Steps For U.S. ATC

15 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Aviation Week's Christine Boynton, Sean Broderick and Bill Carey break down the current state of the U.S. air traffic control system and analyze what ...

What We Saw Inside JetZero

08 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Will JetZero's blended-wing body passenger jet become a reality? Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Guy Norris and Steve Trimble weigh in following their vi...

ULA CEO Tory Bruno On Navigating The Space Race

01 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno discusses launch campaign details, the future of Vulcan and the National Security Space Launch program market.

What You Can Expect From The F/A-XX Decision

25 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The U.S. Navy appears poised to pick either Boeing or Northrop Grumman to develop its next-generation combat aircraft, the F/A-XX. Listen in as Aviati...

What Tariffs Mean For Boeing, Airbus And Comac

17 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Michael Bruno and Jens Flottau are joined by Wall Street analyst Scott Mikus to break down how global trade turmoil affec...

Spatial Awareness—Live From The 40th Space Symposium

11 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Editors at the 40th Space Symposium discuss everything from threats to NASA's science missions to the Golden Dome air-defense concept.

What Do Trump Tariffs Mean For Aerospace And Air Travel?

03 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

AeroDynamic Advisory's Kevin Michaels joins Aviation Week editors to discuss the worrisome implications for the industry.

Is Airbus Running In Place?

28 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Thierry Dubois, Jens Flottau and Graham Warwick discuss why an Airbus next-generation single-aisle program launch is not ...

NGAD Win Puts Boeing Back in the Game With The F-47

21 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What does Boeing's contract win for the U.S. Air Force's next-generation combat aircraft, the F-47, mean for the struggling aerospace company? Join Av...

What's The Buzz At Verticon?

17 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Aviation Week's Guy Norris and Tony Osborne at Verticon run the rule over new programs launched by Airbus and Robinson and discuss other highlights fr...

NGAD Is Up, NGAS Is Down & CCAs Are Inbound

14 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What's the latest on plans for next-generation U.S. Air Force platforms in the age of DOGE? Brian Everstine and Steve Trimble join Robert Wall to shar...

The End Of Net Zero 2050 For Airlines

11 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Less than four years after boldly pledging to reach net zero emissions by 2050, IATA appears to be dropping the target. Is the airline industry abando...

Check 6 Revisits: The Sweeping Influence Of The B-47 On Airliner Design

06 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Boeing's Mike Lombardi joins editors for a deep dive into the B-47, the revolutionary bomber that shaped modern airliner design as we know it. Check 6...

Deep Dive Into The Mysterious X-37B Spaceplane

21 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As the X-37B graces the cover of Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine, editors Robert Wall, Vivienne Machi and Guy Norris discuss the unique char...

Could The U.S. Lose Its Leadership In Space?

18 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

America remains a hotbed of space innovation, but worries mount over China's rapid advances. AIA's Steve Jordan Tomaszewski joins Aviation Week's Joe ...

Aviation Pulls Back From Innovation

14 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As Airbus puts hydrogen on the back burner and ATR delays its hybrid-electric turboprop, does the industry have a prayer of meeting its net-zero goals...

Beyond The Hype—What's Happening With Air Taxis

12 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As updates continue to fly out from advanced air mobility startups, Aviation Week's Ben Goldstein, Graham Warwick and Jens Flottau are joined by consu...

Potomac Crash—An Accident Decades In The Making?

05 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Jan. 29 collision of an American Airlines CRJ-700 with a U.S. Army UH-60L Black Hawk was the worst aviation accident in the U.S. since 2009. Aviat...

Brilliant Pebbles Are Back

31 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After President Trump signed an executive order for "Iron Dome for America," Aviation Week editors Robert Wall, Brian Everstine and Steve Trimble disc...

What's Next For Boeing, Airbus And Embraer?

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How did Airbus and Boeing finish last year in orders and deliveries? Can Boeing bounce back in 2025? And what are airlines saying they want from a new...

AIAA's SciTech Forum Teases Hydrogen Cycles And Gulled Wings

17 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Aviation Week editors Graham Warwick and Guy Norris discuss some of the breakthrough technologies and advanced concepts to emerge at this year's AIAA ...

Dissecting China's New Combat Aircraft Designs

08 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Aviation Week's Robert Wall, Steve Trimble, Tony Osborne and Graham Warwick unpack the design details of two new Chinese combat aircraft and what make...

Flubs And Forecasts

20 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Eight Aviation Week editors grade their predictions for 2024 and make new bets on what will happen next year. Joe Anselmo is joined by Michael Bruno, ...

Aerospace & Defense's Digital Transformation Opportunity | Sponsored By Siemens

18 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this Siemens-sponsored podcast Todd Tuthill, Vice President of Aerospace, Defense, and Marine Industry at Siemens Digital Industries Software, expl...

Airbus Races, Boeing Staggers To The 2024 Finish Line

13 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in as editors discuss whether Airbus will meet its delivery target and the long climb ahead for Boeing. 

What's New With Europe's Fighter Programs?

06 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Aviation Week's defense team discusses the latest developments with Europe's combat air projects as governments there ramp up military spending. 

Check 6 Revisits: Hypersonic Hopes—The Legacy Of The X-30 Orient Express

26 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hypersonics expert and former chief scientist of the U.S. Air Force Dr. Mark Lewis joins Aviation Week's Christine Boynton, Guy Norris and Graham Warw...

How NASA's New 2050 Goals Could Reshape Airliners

22 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sixteen years after the launch of its ground-breaking N+3 project, NASA is using the same model to once again accelerate the pace of advancements as...

Aerospace Eyes Trump 2.0

14 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How will a second Trump administration affect the defense industry and global alliances?  Listen in as the McCain Institute's executive director Evel...

Why Isn't Airbus Doing Better?

08 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Even in a duopoly, one company's misfortunate isn't necessarily the other's fortune. Financial analyst Sash Tusa joins Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Je...

Can Anyone Catch SpaceX?

01 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

SpaceX's Starship booster "catch" at the launchpad wowed the space world, but big hurdles remain to launching humans to Mars in 2028. Irene Klotz and ...

Understanding UAP As An Aerospace Safety Concern

25 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Once known as UFOs, sightings of unidentified anomalous phenomena present a thorny issue for the aviation community. Former F/A-18 pilot Ryan Graves w...

Why Boeing Has Delayed The 777X Yet Again

18 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's been nearly five years since the cutting-edge aircraft first flew, but you won't fly on one before 2026. Aviation Week's Guy Norris, Sean Broderi...

Check 6 With Accenture: Why The Commercial Aerospace Outlook Isn't As Bad As You Think

09 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Despite a downturn in deliveries, industry revenues will actually grow this year. Accenture's John Schmidt and Jeff Wheless reveal why. 

Boeing Strike Goes From Bad To Worse

03 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As the strike by Boeing's machinists enters a new, uncertain phase, the company's suppliers, customers and investors are grappling with the rising dam...

Where Is Commercial Propulsion Heading?

02 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in to hear Frank Haselbach, president of ISABE and head of propulsion at Airbus, in conversation with Aviation Week's Guy Norris. They discuss ...

Unpacking Israel's Air Campaign Against Hezbollah

27 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Aviation Week's Steve Trimble is just back from a trip to Israel, including its northern border. Listen to his observations from the frontline and wha...

Check 6 Revisits: Engine Of Change—50 Years Of CFM

24 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

CFM International CEO Gael Meheust joins the podcast to dive into the remarkable story behind the CFM56: Hear how teams on opposite sides of the Atlan...

What Boeing's Strike Means For The Industry

17 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

From delivery rates to junk ratings, book-to-bill ratios to engine spares, listen in to hear about the wide-ranging implications of Boeing's machinist...

V-22 Back Under The Spotlight

13 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Aviation Week's Robert Wall, Brian Everstine and Steve Trimble discuss the V-22 program and its safety, but first shed light on the latest NGAD and CC...

Is Boom's Supersonic Airliner Closer To Reality?

06 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in as Aviation Week's propulsion editor Guy Norris updates our chief Boom skeptic Steve Trimble on the company's latest test flight. Jens Flott...

NASA's Starliner Saga

30 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in as editors explain why a crew vehicle is coming home from the space station without a crew, and what it means for Boeing, SpaceX and two str...

Can Airbus And Boeing Win Back Suppliers' Confidence? | Sponsored By McKinsey & Company

28 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The commercial aviation supply chain is at a crossroads. In this sponsored podcast two McKinsey & Co. experts explain why—and what it means for the ...

A Path For SAF?

23 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Amid growing skepticism that airlines can achieve net zero emissions in 2050, a report lays out a road map for rapidly scaling up sustainable aviation...

Propulsion Puzzle

16 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Airbus is really excited about an open-rotor engine. Boeing not so much. Listen in as Aviation Week's Guy Norris explains the background behind his re...

Sustainable X-Planes, Lunar Infrastructure & More At AIAA In Vegas

09 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics' flagship Aviation Forum and Ascend conferences come together for the first time in Las Vega...

Is Boeing's New CEO The Right Pick?

02 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kelly Ortberg has a stellar track record as an aerospace CEO, but he faces momentous challenges in Seattle. Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo and Michael Br...

Future Of Air Combat In Focus At Farnborough

26 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in as Aviation Week's Robert Wall, Tony Osborne and Brian Everstine discuss their highlights from Farnborough Airshow, sharing their thoughts o...

Farnborough Fizzle

25 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

At Farnborough Airshow 2024, an absence of new aircraft orders spoke volumes. Listen in as Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Christine Boynton, Jens Flotta...

Cold War Comeback

19 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The NATO Summit in Washington and Global Air & Space Chiefs' Conference in London both had Cold War undertones. Listen in as editors Robert Wall, Bria...

Check 6 With Accenture: Four Stories To Watch At Farnborough

12 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in to hear from Accenture leaders John Schmidt and Joyce Kline on why supply chain and workforce challenges remain vexing, but technological so...

UK Election Kicks Off Britain-Focused Defense Month

05 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the defense industry, all eyes are on the UK in July for RIAT and Farnborough. Aviation Week's Robert Wall, Tony Osborne and Craig Caffrey kick off...

Another Eventful Week At Boeing

02 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Sean Broderick and Jens Flottau unpack a week that started with a unique media briefing at Boeing's Renton facility and e...

What's Up With NGAD?

27 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

U..S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall cast doubt on the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter program in an interview with Aviation Week. Lis...

Check 6 Revisits: Supersonic From Bongo To Boom

21 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Aviation Week editors go back through the archives to the origins of supersonic flight, revisiting key programs and exploring the issues that are stil...

What's Behind The Widebody Order Buzz?

14 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Airlines are on the verge of placing hundreds of orders for widebody jets. Listen is as Aviation Week Network's Joe Anselmo, Jens Flottau, Lori Ranson...

MRO Podcast: How AI Is Transforming The Aftermarket

06 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Check 6 will be back with a regular episode next week. Today we are sharing an episode of Aviation Week's MRO Podcast. Listen in to hear Aviation Week...

The F-35 Has A Case Of Long COVID

31 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in as Aviation Week editors Robert Wall, Steve Trimble and Tony Osborne discuss the GAO's recent report on the F-35 and explain what's hamperin...

Are Airlines' Net Zero Goals Unrealistic?

24 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In 2021 airlines pledged to hit net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Aviation Week experts debate their progress so far and what approach should be take...

How Can We Solve Aviation's Big Contrails Problem?

17 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Eliminating contrails would cut aviation's climate impact by half, but can it be done? Aviation Week editors Guy Norris, Thierry Dubois and Graham War...