Textron Aviation has integrated Sensos Smart Labels into its parts distribution process, offering customers the option to purchase access to real-time location data and shipment status updates for select parts orders.
The Sensos labels are available for purchase for orders through the Textron Aviation Parts website at ww2.txtav.com/parts. The labels are lightweight, wireless trackers that provide continuous location updates throughout the shipping journey. Live tracking information can reduce downtime and enhance proactive planning, whether shipping domestically or internationally.
Textron Aviation offers worldwide parts availability and service programs designed to lower predictable maintenance costs. The Textron Aviation Parts network consists of seven parts distribution centers, 17 stockrooms and a worldwide online parts website. Source: txtav.com
AOPA Foundation Opens Scholarship Applications, Speeds Up Award Process
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the AOPA Foundation opened their scholarship application window in October with a new, streamlined process that shortens wait times and helps current and future pilots take advantage of the scholarships sooner.
There will be two shorter application windows each year, with award decisions announced soon after. The current application period closes on Dec. 31, with notifications to recipients beginning in February. The next scholarship application period runs from April to June, with notifications to recipients beginning in August.
“The AOPA Foundation scholarship program is more popular than ever,” AOPA Scholarship Manager Taz Thomas said in a news release. “Earlier this year, we awarded more than $2 million to nearly 400 people. With these changes, applicants will learn their results sooner and move forward with their training faster than before.”
There are a variety of scholarships available through the AOPA Foundation, including at least 90 students and up to 10 teachers annually receiving at least $10,000 toward training for their private pilot certificate. Other scholarships include funding for primary flight training, such as a sport or private certificate, or helping pilots obtain additional ratings and certificates such as instrument, commercial, flight instructor or multi-engine. The AOPA Foundation also offers several scholarships for non-flying pursuits, including mechanic and flight dispatcher training.
Applicants must meet scholarship-specific criteria and hold a current AOPA membership, which is free for high school students. Find details at aopa.org/training-and-safety/students/aopa-flight-training-scholarships. The AOPA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and its scholarships and programs are not funded by AOPA member dues but by donations from individuals and organizations. Source: aopa.org
National Aviation Hall of Fame Announces 2026 Class
The National Aviation Hall of Fame announced the outstanding individuals selected for induction in 2026. These trailblazers have made groundbreaking contributions to aviation and aerospace, from breaking barriers and advancing safety standards to pioneering innovative technologies and inspiring future generations. Their induction ceremony is scheduled for Sept. 24, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
With 270 notable individuals enshrined to date, the NAHF remains the only Congressionally chartered aviation hall of fame in the United States. The inductees are chosen by a distinguished panel of aviation professionals from across the country. Here is the Class of 2026:
William F. Bahret (posthumously): Groundbreaking radar engineer at Wright Field’s Avionics Lab, Bahret is often called “the father of stealth.” He developed groundbreaking methods to measure and predict radar signatures based on shape and materials – without the need for physical models. His work identified key contributors to radar reflection, such as curved surfaces, jet turbines and antennas. By the 1960s, his theories had been applied to stealth-enhancing designs, such as the Hound Dog missile, placing the U.S. decades ahead in radar evasion technology and laying the foundation for modern low-observable aircraft.
Leonard Michael Greene (posthumously): Visionary inventor and aerodynamics engineer, Greene held more than 200 patents to improve aviation safety and performance. He is best known for inventing the widely adopted Aircraft Stall Warning device, a critical advancement that has saved countless lives. To bring his innovations to market, he founded Safe Flight Instrument Corporation in 1946, which became a leading developer of aircraft safety systems. Beyond engineering, Greene was also a compassionate humanitarian. In 1981, he co-founded the Corporate Angel Network, which uses the empty seats on corporate aircraft to fly cancer patients to treatment at no cost.
Dr. Shannon Lucid: Former NASA astronaut and biochemist who logged over 5,300 hours in space across five missions, including a record-setting 188-day stay aboard Russia’s Mir Space Station. Selected as an astronaut in 1978, she was among the first women to join NASA’s astronaut corps and later served as NASA’s Chief Scientist.
John D. Odegard (posthumously): Born and raised in Minot, North Dakota, Odegard was the visionary founder of the University of North Dakota’s School of Aerospace Sciences. Odegard transformed a small flight program into one of the world’s leading collegiate aviation schools. Starting with two aircraft and a handful of students, he grew UND into a global leader in pilot education, aerospace research and space studies. He pioneered FAA‑accredited degree programs, helped develop international training standards and expanded UND’s work in weather, atmospheric science and space exploration, leaving a legacy that continues to shape aviation education worldwide.
Captain Ross Perot Jr.: Accomplished business leader and aviation pioneer who made history as the first person to circumnavigate the globe in a helicopter at age 23, copiloting the Bell 206L-2 “Spirit of Texas” in 1982. A lifelong champion of aerospace innovation, he developed the nation’s first purely industrial airport – Fort Worth Alliance Airport – and continues to break records, most recently setting multiple speed records in the Gulfstream G650ER. As Chairman of The Perot Group and Hillwood, he is advancing next-generation aviation technologies while actively supporting programs that inspire young people to pursue careers in flight and engineering, ensuring a strong future for the industry he has helped shape.
Captain C. B. “Sully” Sullenberger: Acclaimed airline captain whose quick thinking and calm leadership during the emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River in 2009 saved all 155 people on board. The event, known as the “Miracle on the Hudson,” made him a global symbol of aviation heroism. In the years since, he has become a leading advocate for aviation safety, pilot training and public service, including serving as U.S. Ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization.
Dr. Peggy Whitson: Accomplished biochemist and astronaut whose groundbreaking career spans both NASA and commercial human spaceflight. She flew three long-duration missions aboard the International Space Station, became the first woman to command the ISS and later commanded two Axiom Space missions. In 2009, she was appointed NASA’s Chief of the Astronaut Office, the first woman and first non-pilot to hold the role. With a U.S. record for the most cumulative days in space and more than 60 hours of extravehicular activity or spacewalking, she continues to advance human spaceflight as a leader at Axiom Space and serves as a powerful inspiration to future explorers. Source: nationalaviation.org