Aviation Week's Check 6 Podcast
Aviation Week
Aviation Week & Space Technology editors take a look at some of the bigger-picture issues in the world of aerospace and defense
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 2, 2026 • 32min
Can NASA's X-59 And Boom's Overture Really Deliver A New Era Of Supersonic Travel?
As NASA begins X-59 envelope expansion and Boom develops its first high speed engine, civil supersonic activity is at its highest since the retirement of Concorde in 2003. Aviation Week editors discuss the latest developments and the challenges that lie ahead.
Mar 31, 2026 • 26min
NASA's New Moonshot
The new administrator shakes up the space agency with plans for lunar base and sunsetting SLS. Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo and Irene Klotz speak with Redwire Space President Michael Gold about the developments.
Mar 27, 2026 • 26min
A Tale Of Two FALS—Airbus In Mobile And Boeing In Charleston
Editors are joined by AeroDynamic Advisory Managing Director Richard Aboulafia to discuss the progress of airliner production by Airbus in Alabama and Boeing in South Carolina.
Mar 24, 2026 • 23min
What's Under The Ever-More Expensive Golden Dome—From Patriots To Hobbits
Aviation Week editors discuss the increase in projected Golden Dome costs and what the fiscal 2027 Pentagon budget request may tell us about the umbrella program.
Mar 20, 2026 • 21min
The Impact Of The Iran War On Airlines
Conflict and fuel prices have battered air transport, but U.S. carriers are surprisingly confident. Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Christine Boynton, Jens Flottau and Lori Ranson discuss how the Iran war is affecting airlines in different regions and look ahead to potential ripple effects.
Mar 17, 2026 • 29min
High-Energy Laser Weapons Reach New Heights
Aviation Week editors Robert Wall and Steve Trimble discuss the evolution of laser weapons that are now getting their first battlefield kills and are destined for new applications.
Mar 13, 2026 • 27min
Heavy Lift And eVTOLs Put The 'Vertical' In Verticon
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 of this year's Verticon rotorcraft expo.
Mar 10, 2026 • 29min
Rolls-Royce Wants A Piece Of The Next-Gen Narrowbody Market
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 UltraFan 30—but can it break the CFM-Pratt duopoly? Editors are joined by guest columnist Scott Mikus, director of Melius Research covering aerospace, to discuss the dynamics in next-generation single-aisle propulsion.
Mar 6, 2026 • 30min
How Iran War Tests Air Power, Gulf Hubs
Aviation Week's Robert Wall, Jens Flottau and Steve Trimble discuss the military operation in Iran, how it has disrupted commercial air travel and consider the ramifications for aviation.
Mar 3, 2026 • 29min
High On CCAs, B-21, Space & More—The AFA Warfare Debrief
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 Warfare Symposium. Thank you to our sponsor L3Harris. L3Harris' Red Wolf and Green Wolf deliver an unfair fight by combining speed, extended range and lethality through kinetic and non-kinetic effects: https://www.l3harris.com/all-capabilities/l3harris-pack-launched-effects
