Ars Technica
• Eric Berger
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said the company is “feeling pretty good” about Starliner’s prospects for a this-year launch, signaling improving confidence in the program’s timeline and readiness posture after ongoing development work.
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Senate Republicans blocked Democratic legislation that aimed to prevent the Pentagon from using taxpayer funds to modify a VIP-configured Boeing 747-8 (BBJ) that is currently serving as the VC-25B Bridge aircraft. The aircraft was donated to President Donald Trump by Qatar in 2025.
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Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said the company is “feeling pretty good” about Starliner’s prospects for a this-year launch, signaling improving confidence in the program’s timeline and readiness posture after ongoing development work.
The UK parliament has been informed that an investigation into the Air India Boeing 787 crash remains active, with thrust-control analysis continuing after the accident. The minister also said tests conducted in Seattle found no anomalies in the fuel switch, while formal progress continues to be reviewed.
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United Airlines says it has “no interest” in taking early-build Boeing 777-9 aircraft that are awaiting change incorporation. The carrier’s stance underscores schedule and configuration risk for the start of the 777-9 program, with delivery planning affected by what Boeing still needs to implement.
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General Dynamics beat Q2 2026 forecasts as Gulfstream deliveries rose to 41 and Aerospace revenue climbed 15.1%. Boeing reported a Q2 2026 net loss of $428M (-$0.67/share) on $24.6B revenue, alongside a record $715B order backlog. Airbus more than doubled Q2 profit on stronger commercial deliveries and defense performance, reiterating its full-year outlook as the A350 freighter’s first flight appears pushed to “before year-end” and A400M momentum looks “good.”
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US-Bangla Airlines has formally announced plans to buy 21 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft by 2027, in a deal valued at about $1.5 billion. The carrier says the fleet growth is intended to expand its international network, targeting service to North America and Europe.
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Australia has introduced its first national standard operating procedures for large air tanker firefighting aircraft, including minimum drop heights, after an investigation into a 2023 Boeing 737 firebomber accident in Western Australia. The rules follow findings that no height restrictions were in place at the time of the crash.
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Boeing has completed the final certification flight for the 737 MAX 10, ending the flight-test campaign after years of development and regulatory delays. The program logged 976 flights and about 1,040 hours on the ground, with certification now pending FAA safety reviews and approval. The MAX 7/10 test efforts were completed in parallel, setting up targeted 2026 certification and 2027 deliveries.
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