Aviation Week's Check 6 Podcast
Episodes
The Impact Of The Iran War On Airlines
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Conflict and fuel prices have battered air transport, but U.S. carriers are surprisingly confident. Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Christine Boynton, Je...
High-Energy Laser Weapons Reach New Heights
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Aviation Week editors Robert Wall and Steve Trimble discuss the evolution of laser weapons that are now getting their first battlefield kills and are ...
Heavy Lift And eVTOLs Put The 'Vertical' In Verticon
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Aviation Week's Guy Norris and Tony Osborne are joined in Atlanta by vertical flight veteran Mike Hirschberg of H2 Advisors to discuss the highlights ...
Rolls-Royce Wants A Piece Of The Next-Gen Narrowbody Market
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Some 14 years after exiting the single-aisle engine market, Rolls-Royce is trying to get back into it, unveiling a new engine concept called the Ultra...
How Iran War Tests Air Power, Gulf Hubs
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Aviation Week's Robert Wall, Jens Flottau and Steve Trimble discuss the military operation in Iran, how it has disrupted commercial air travel and con...
High On CCAs, B-21, Space & More—The AFA Warfare Debrief
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Listen in as Aviation Week's Robert Wall, Brian Everstine, Vivienne Machi and Guy Norris reflect on program updates and other highlights from the AFA ...
Aviation And Trump's Tariffs, Round Two
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Michael Bruno and Jens Flottau are joined by consultant Kevin Michaels to break down President Trump's latest tariffs and...
Fuel Up For AFA Warfare Symposium
23 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Editors preview AFA Warfare Symposium, setting the scene for key topics that will be on the agenda in Colorado. They touch on new leadership and shift...
Airbus Points The Finger At Pratt & Whitney
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Editors are joined by Richard Aboulafia to discuss airliner production after Airbus shared its delivery targets for this year and Boeing updated it...
How Europe Learned To Start Worrying And Love The Bomb
17 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Editors are joined by Agency Partners' analyst Sash Tusa to discuss the fallout of the Munich Security Conference and Saudi Arabia's World Defense Sho...
Jared Isaacman On NASA's Future
12 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
NASA is under new leadership with Jared Isaacman. Listen in as he answers questions from Aviation Week's Irene Klotz after eight weeks on the job in t...
From TacAir To Transports—Defense At The Singapore Airshow
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Aviation Week's Robert Wall, Chen Chuanren and Brian Everstine report from the Singapore Airshow, sharing what they've been hearing about different mi...
Commercial Aviation Insights From The Singapore Airshow
05 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Listen in as Aviation Week's Guy Norris, Jens Flottau and Adrian Schofield sit down at the end of Day Two of the 2026 Singapore Airshow to break down ...
Unpacking The Pentagon's New Strategy—Greenland, Golden Dome And Budget Implications
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Listen in as Aviation Week's Robert Wall, Brian Everstine and Steve Trimble break down the Pentagon's new National Defense Strategy and what it means ...
Shot Down—What the FCC's UAS Ban Means
27 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Trump administration has started the clock on a near-total ban of foreign UAS and parts in the U.S. The surprise blanket ban has the potential to ...
What Did SciTech Reveal About The Future Of Aerospace?
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Listen in as Aviation Week's Guy Norris and Graham Warwick report back from their annual pilgrimage to AIAA SciTech, sharing news of future aerospace ...
Innovate, Compete, Win: Aviation Week's Space Tech Challenge 2026
20 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Aviation Week's Robert Wall and Garrett Reim are joined by Russ Matijevich, space industry veteran and a judge in the Space Tech Challenge Awards. Nom...
Does Airbus Deserve a B+ or a C-?
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Airframers' 2025 delivery totals are in. Aviation Week's team grades Airbus, Boeing and the smaller OEMs on their production performance last year.
Trump Vs. Defense Industry
13 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Analyst Byron Callan joins Aviation Week editors to discuss U.S. President Donald Trump's attack on contractor profits and his plan to boost defense s...
Is The GCAP Fighter The F-35's International Successor?
09 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Watch as Richard Aboulafia joins the podcast to discuss how 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for two next-generation fighter programs conceived...
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...