Writing this in my personal capacity, but I have been flying these types of aircraft for more than 20 years, with over 8,000 hours, and have reasonable familiarity with how the charter world operates. I feel compelled to post after seeing commentary about the Lear 60 crash, from missile strikes to DEI to critiquing this poor woman’s final radio calls. That last part is what I find most troubling. She was the second-in-command (SIC), and while she was empowered to point out mistakes as part of good crew resource management, she was doing her job, communicating with ATC right to the end in a terrifying situation. She likely knew before many of those calls that she was going to die. I have heard final calls from friends, from military pilots with thousands of hours in fighter aircraft, and they are just as heartbreaking because they know the end is approaching. I understand the public interest given the footage and audio. But you do not know the aircraft’s maintenance history, whether there was a structural failure, if any failure was induced by turbulence, overspeed, or overcontrol, or everything happening in that cockpit. I am sure weather will be part of the investigation, but beyond that, it is speculation. The charter industry routinely hires commercial pilots very early in their careers to gain experience alongside an ATP-qualified captain before they move up to the airlines. She would still have the appropriate training, qualifications, and checkouts by an FAA examiner or designee. Let people investigate, learn, and share the facts. Be respectful to those who perished and the families who carry their memories. God bless them and their loved ones.

Since your profile indicates you are a former NASA, I thought I would flag a few points: 1. I personally pay for all costs associated with the fleet of F-5 aircraft, be that airshows, NFL flyovers, or NASA workforce incentive flights. The rest of the NASA fleet, including F-15s, F/A-18s, and T-38s, requires currency flights to maintain pilot proficiency. Would you prefer they do that over the desert where no one can see them? 2. Obviously, the first A in NASA is Aeronautics, and throughout our history we have taken NASA X-planes to airshows. In fact, a lot of my strategy at NASA draws upon our proud history. We took the X-31 all the way to the Paris Air Show in 1995, the SR-71 was featured at the Edwards Air Show and Oshkosh in 1997, and the X-29 flew at the Dayton and Oshkosh airshows in 1990. It is part of our history, and do you know why? Because inspiring the next generation of engineers, scientists, researchers, pilots, and astronauts is part of what we do. It always has been. 3. It is also our nation’s 250th birthday and the year we returned NASA astronauts to the lunar environment. We are returning to the Moon, building a Moon base, and this is a great time to get out, engage with the public, and tell the NASA story.

The next generation already in training. My daughters, Mila and Liv, are wrapping up their week at Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. This place is a national treasure. @SpaceCampUSA @RocketCenterUSA

Get ready for a front row seat to Artemis III. NASA has selected @SpaceX to provide laser communications capabilities from the Orion spacecraft for the mission. They will deliver high-def imagery as astronauts test rendezvous & docking operations between Orion and commercial systems.

This week, @NASA celebrated America's aerospace legacy while building its future 🇺🇸 ✈️ @Freedom250 flyovers in DC 🧑‍🚀 New crew prepares for the ISS 🌕 Artemis III assembly hits new milestones 🌎 Supporting global disaster response Here's your NASA Minute!

On July 14, @astro_anil is scheduled to lift off on his first-ever flight to the @Space_Station. We will be broadcasting his launch and arrival live on NASA+, YouTube, and other platforms. Learn when to watch:

America’s 250th birthday reminds us that every generation is called to build on the legacy of those who came before them. @POTUS honoring Apollo 17’s Jack Schmitt alongside the Artemis II crew was a fitting tribute to America’s past…and the explorers who will help shape its future. 🇺🇸🚀

🚨 #OSH26# News: New patriotic-themed aircraft from NASA coming to Oshkosh! 🚨 NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and several NASA aircraft will be among the special guests throughout our big event. Isaacman will speak during a Warbirds in Review presentation on his personal MiG-29 and F-5 aircraft, and highlighting the aircraft from NASA will be an F-15 Eagle and F/A-18 Hornet with special patriotic livery celebrating #America250#. More details: 📸 @NASAArmstrong 📅 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026: July 20-26 🎟️ #Oshkosh# #AirVenture# #aviation# #avgeek# #planespotting# #NASA#

179M+ miles steamed on nuclear power. Zero reactor accidents. 40 years after his passing, Adm. Hyman Rickover’s relentless pursuit of safety and accountability still defines the Nuclear Navy. @NNSAWilliams reflects on this enduring legacy:

Honored to join my colleagues from Commerce, Energy, NSF and OSTP today at the White House Summit on American Quantum Innovation.   This administration is demonstrating decisive action to ensure the United States maintains a permanent advantage over any global adversary in quantum technologies.   I outlined how the @DeptofWar is implementing President Trump’s Executive Order on Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation. The mandate @POTUS has laid out is abundantly clear: our warfighters must maintain absolute information dominance across all domains of warfare. The Department of War will continue prioritizing investments that deliver tangible quantum solutions to the Joint Force by partnering directly with industry and academia through our Quantum and Battlefield Information Dominance (Q-BID) Critical Technology Area.

NASA Administrator Flight Experience Awards "NASA employee Charles Meilbye is recognized as part of NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman’s Flight Experience Award program on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at the Launch and Landing Facility at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Meilbye, with other awardees, suited up, completed preflight briefings, and experienced a unique flight aboard the administrator’s personal F-5 aircraft. The ride-along flight experience award program highlights NASA’s commitment to celebrating excellence across the workforce." @rookisaacman

This is a different Department of War. Our business over bureaucracy approach saves taxpayers over $17 BILLION across 8 critical munitions programs! No longer will taxpayers foot the bill for defense contractors to build factories and machinery. Long-term purchase commitments for critical munitions provide stability in cost over time, while private companies are now self-funding production expansion. These savings, along with the boom in jobs across the country, will ONLY happen when Congress enacts President Trump’s $350B Recon 3.0!