Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

The Pink Jet—a nonprofit founded to help spread the word about breast cancer awareness, provide support to survivors, and raise money for a cure—brought its freshly painted pink Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros for its world debut at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The jet is piloted by an all-female crew that includes Heather “Lucky” Penney, Stephanie Goetz, and Vicky Benzing. It is operated by breast cancer survivor support and awareness nonprofit Aerial Angels.
According to Aerial Angels, its founders, “motivated by personal experiences with breast cancer among family, friends, and colleagues, coupled their concern with a love of aviation, leading to the birth of The Pink Jet. Generous donations allowed the transformation of a former Czechoslovakian fighter jet into The Pink Jet, furthering Aerial Angels' mission to use aviation for breast cancer awareness.” Scheme Designers provided the paint scheme for the pink jet, which was painted by Dean Baldwin using paint supplied by Mankiewicz.
Aerial Angels is planning to field an all-female aerobatic team flying five to six pink jets, and plans call for appearances and flyovers at a variety of airshows and events this year and in the future.
Heather Penney, a senior fellow at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, was one of the first wave of U.S. female fighter pilots and served two combat tours in Iraq. During the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, “she was chosen for a suicide mission to intercept and bring down United Airlines Flight 93, at whatever cost,” according to The Pink Jet.
Stephanie Goetz flies a Bombardier Global 6000 and is also an L-39 instructor pilot. “Her mother is a stage 3 breast cancer survivor, which drives Stephanie’s passion for supporting breast cancer survivors and raising money for a cure.”
Pilot, skydiver, aerobatic performer, and air racer Vicky Benzing holds the title of fastest woman racer at the Reno Air Races. With a Ph.D. in chemistry from UC Berkeley, Benzing has logged more than 10,000 hours and 1,300 parachute jumps.&nbsp;

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

The Pink Jet Arrives for EAA AirVenture Debut in Oshkosh

Plans call for a fleet of pink jets to fly at airshows and events

The pink jet is piloted by an all-female crew that includes Heather “Lucky” Penney, Stephanie Goetz, and Vicky Benzing, operated by the nonprofit Aerial Angels.

The Pink Jet Arrives for EAA AirVenture Debut

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News about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

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News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

John Travolta will host the ceremony, which also marks new inductees and tributes  

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News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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AIN 2025 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit, West –Retaining employees, moderated by Bob Hobbi, Service Elements

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News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

EAA AirVenture 2024

More In Training and Workforce

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P3 program aims to help pilots adhere to proper landing procedures

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Company recently updated platform with v1.3

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Fixating solely on salaries is shortsighted

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Retaining Employees in the Business Aviation Workforce

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More than 40% of the helicopter maintenance and operations company's staff comprises veterans

Managing Generational Differences in the Business Aviation Workforce

AIN 2025 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit, West – Generational differences, moderated by Ashley Sanchez

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