NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman (fifth from left) stands with NASA personnel and F-5 pilots following an employee incentive flight on his personal aircraft in February. [Credit: NASA/John Kraus]
Key Takeaways:
The FAA initially rejected NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman's request to fly his personal Cold War-era F-5 Tiger II fighter jets over the National Mall, citing safety concerns and classifying them as "very high-risk" experimental aircraft.
Isaacman circumvented the FAA's objections by transferring control of the F-5s from his private company to NASA, which reclassified them as "public use" government aircraft and shifted operational responsibility from the FAA to the space agency, allowing the flyover to proceed.
The FAA rejected a request on behalf of NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman to fly his personal, Cold War-era F-5 Tiger II fighter jets over the National Mall in Washington, D.C., as part of celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary.
The regulator cited safety concerns. But the space agency found a workaround to the FAA’s objections.
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Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
