Episodes

429
May 29, 2025

429 The UAV Digest Relaunch: eVTOLs, Drones, and the Future of Flight

Episode 429 marks a major milestone for the podcast formerly known as The UAV Digest, soon to be relaunched as UAV News Talk. Max Flight and David Vanderhoof return to the mic after a long hiatus to introduce new co-host Max Trescott, known for his work on the Aviation News Talk podcast and expertise in both fixed-wing and helicopter flying. The episode opens with a nostalgic look back to 2013, when Max Flight and David launched the show to cover the then-emerging drone landscape without overwh...
May 13, 2025

NTSB News Talk Trailer

NTSB News Talk is your go-to podcast for in-depth discussions of aircraft accidents, investigations, and the lessons pilots can’t afford to ignore. Hosted by award-winning aviation journalist Rob Mark and Max Trescott, a CFI who has trained as an accident investigator, this show breaks down recent NTSB reports, analyzes accident causes, and explores what every pilot, instructor, and aviation enthusiast can learn from these events. Whether you’re a student pilot, airline captain, or simply fasci...
428
April 30, 2025

428 We’re Coming Back and We need Your Feedback to Make Us Better

If you’ve been a longtime listener, you know it’s been a while — actually, a couple of years — since our last episode. But the good news is: The UAV Digest is coming back! Since we last released an episode, the world of drones, UAVs, and advanced air mobility has evolved dramatically. And with so many exciting developments in technology, regulations, and industry trends, we want to make sure that the new version of the show stays in step with what matters most to you. When we return, the show ...
427
April 14, 2023

427 Drone Safety Day 2023

Drone Safety Day, shape-changing drone, jump-start your car, Florida bans DJI, sUAS decision-making, avoiding collisions, adding VTOL to fixed-wing, farmers save water, land a drone in Red Square.
426
March 31, 2023

426 ADS-B Spoofing

Detecting ADS-B spoofing, racing drone munitions, aerial tanking drones, self-flying F-16s, Condor heavy-lift UAV, light tactical UAS, Archer and United air taxi service in Chicago.
425
March 24, 2023

425 Drone Delivery Network

A drone delivery network, using drones to intercept aircraft, DJI drops AeroScope, DJI security risks, cardboard drones, plans for 1,000 loyal wingmen drones, new Zipline aircraft, Russian Su-27 fighter jets intercept a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper.
424
March 4, 2023

424 Personal eVTOL

Another personal eVTOL, cops flying BVLOS, military drones with facial recognition, a lethal drone designed in Australia, the Lilium Jet eVTOL, and moving air quietly. UAV News Is this one-seat flying saucer the future of flight? ZEVA Aero designs and builds electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) vehicles. The company’s flagship product is the Argon, based on a pre-existing airframe. But their Zero is a personal eVTOL for one person. It launches with the pilot standing, but the position ...
423
Feb. 25, 2023

423 Ameriflight Cargo Drones

Ameriflight cargo drones from Saberwing and Natilus, autonomous wind turbine inspections, American Security Drone Act, hydrogen-powered octocopter, Green and Blue UAS.
422
Feb. 17, 2023

422 Global Drone Market

Global drone market report, aircraft control with AI, slow start to Amazon drone deliveries, drones disrupt flight operations, testing service for microgravity research.
421
Feb. 4, 2023

421 Cargo Drone

An autonomous blended-wing cargo drone and a smaller electric cargo drone, Eaglet takes flight, taser drones at public schools, GAO recommendations for FAA strategy, the Dronut, two MQ-9 Reapers for a Dollar, BVLOS inspection solution.
420
Jan. 27, 2023

420 Toroidal Propellers

Toroidal propellers reduce multirotor noise, layoffs at Prime Air, Valkyrie drones for the Marines, advanced air mobility in Utah, mapping with a collision-tolerant drone, cargo drone carries 100 pounds 600 miles.
419
Jan. 20, 2023

419 Collecting Environmental DNA with a Drone

Autonomous drone collects environmental DNA, measuring flapping performance, outlawing flight over prisons, flying drugs into the U.S., ex-drone manager sues Amazon.
418
Jan. 13, 2023

418 Weather Prediction with Drones

Drones for weather prediction, tracking inventory with autonomous drones, NPRM for UAS communications spectrum, Walmart delivery statistics, underwater drones, the electric grid, cargo delivery to ships.
417
Dec. 9, 2022

417 UAV Tether in Heavy Seas

UAV tether, advanced drones, building designs, Martian missions, Army short-range reconnaissance program, Apple patent, birds, Ukraine drones.
416
Dec. 2, 2022

416 European Drone Strategy 2.0

European drone strategy 2.0, Ukraine drones, wildlife investigations, three active volcanoes, UAS frequencies, consumer attitudes, hydrogen power, Dover AFB sUAS program.
415
Nov. 25, 2022

415 Amazon Prime Air Drone

The latest Amazon Prime Air drone, XQ-58A Valkyrie tactical drones, bringing a drone on a cruise ship, a drone light show fail, and attacking a navy with uncrewed surface vessels. UAV News Amazon reveals the new design for Prime Air’s delivery drone—here’s your first look Amazon has continued to develop its delivery drone. The new MK30 drone has increased range, expanded temperature tolerance, and the capability to fly in light rain. It’s lighter and smaller than its predecessor and has redesig...
414
Nov. 11, 2022

414 Operations Over People

Operations Over People approval for AgEagle, UAV-dominated air forces, women drone pilots in Ukraine, autonomous Black Hawk, drone facilitates robbery, BVLOS corridor in New York, autonomous firefighting helicopter, drones celebrate a game anniversary, increasing lithium battery lifespan.
413
Oct. 28, 2022

413 Community-Based Drone Organizations

Community-based drone organizations, Navy drone swarm, Iranian drone components, FAA reauthorization, Chinese cargo drone, Bell Autonomous Pod Transport, specimen sampling with drones, Wing drone crash, Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
412
Sept. 2, 2022

412 Nano Drones

Nano drones in Ukraine, cloud seeding with drones in China, bots that clean beaches and waterways, a STEM program for young girls, new technologies from Draganfly, and patrolling the airport perimeter. UAV News What Are Black Hornets? The Cutting-Edge Micro-Drones Donated to Ukraine The British Prime Minister announced that 850 Black Hornet nano drones would be given to Ukraine under a joint U.K.-Norway program. The Black Hornet was designed by Prox Dynamics in Norway and became part of Teledyn...
411
Aug. 26, 2022

411 Automated Inspection

Automated inspection of solar panels, NUAIR Public Safety Summit, supersonic target drones, Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat, Pixy selfie drone, rural law enforcement, UAV that can land on steep roofs.
410
Aug. 19, 2022

410 Women and Drones Documentary

Women and drones documentary film, Chinese drone submarine, unmanned surface vessels, drone tech to India, portable ATM system, mapping with multiple drones, Ford patent.
409
Aug. 12, 2022

409 Court Ruling on Drone Remote ID

Court rules in favor of drone Remote ID rule, drones for Ukraine, drones on Mars, chicken by drone, lifeguard drones, mapping a mountain, NASA Zipline partnership, United sends Archer pre-delivery payment.
408
July 29, 2022

408 Archer Aviation Maker

Archer Aviation planning full transition flights of their Maker aircraft, drone shuts down Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, protecting sporting events with drones, using lasers for drone communications, RQ-4 Global Hawk end-of-life, alligator attacks drone, a Remote ID device from Aerobits, and the Zephyr UAS flies for 26 days. UAV News Archer Flight Testing Gains Momentum, On Pace to Achieve Transition Flight By Year End Archer Aviation Inc. announced it is confident it will achieve...
407
July 22, 2022

407 Microsoft AirSim

Microsoft announces a new AirSim platform to train drone AI systems, Amazon Prime Air eyes deliveries in Texas, Russia looks at Iranian drones, DJI pushes back against the American Security Drone Act, a UK drone superhighway, and new drones from Alphabet’s Wing. UAV News Microsoft launches simulator to train drone AI systems In 2017 Microsoft created the open-source AirSim simulation platform for AI research and experimentation, but a lot of technical machine learning knowledge was needed to us...