Home Podcasts UAV News Talk – Drone News, eVTOLs, UAS Policy & Air Mobility
UAV News Talk – Drone News, eVTOLs, UAS Policy & Air Mobility

UAV News Talk – Drone News, eVTOLs, UAS Policy & Air Mobility

Max Trescott | Aviation News Talk Network 441 Episodes Jul 20, 2026

UAV News Talk, formerly The UAV Digest, is your go-to source for drone, UAV, UAS, and eVTOL news. It covers the latest developments in drone regulations, pilot certification, emerging tech, advanced air mobility (AAM), and real-world use cases across industries. The podcast is aimed at drone pilots, developers, policy makers, and aviation enthusiasts, discussing both commercial and military applications.

Episodes

AirVenture 2026 Vertical Lift Center: Joby, Beta, Wing, Zipline and More
AirVenture 2026 Vertical Lift Center: Joby, Beta, Wing, Zipline and More Jul 20, 2026 40:06 EAA AirVenture 2026’s new Vertical Lift Center will feature Joby Aviation, Beta Technologies, Wing, Zipline, and other drone and eVTOL innovators. Max Trescott and David Vanderhoof preview the aircraft, demonstrations, and companies bringing advanced air mobility, drone delivery, personal flight, public-safety systems, and agricultural UAS technology to Oshkosh. Beta is scheduled to fly, while Win
FAA BVLOS Right-of-Way, DJI Rescue Drones, and eVTOL Certification Delays
FAA BVLOS Right-of-Way, DJI Rescue Drones, and eVTOL Certification Delays Jul 16, 2026 37:17 The FAA’s proposed framework for routine beyond-visual-line-of-sight drone operations moves closer to publication, raising a controversial question: Could some BVLOS drones receive presumptive right-of-way over crewed aircraft? Max Trescott and David Vanderhoof examine the proposed Part 108 rules, UAS traffic management, detect-and-avoid technology, and the risks posed by low-flying agricultural a
Joby Toyota eVTOL Deal, Archer Salinas Factory, Pentagon Drone Czar & Disaster Response Drones
Joby Toyota eVTOL Deal, Archer Salinas Factory, Pentagon Drone Czar & Disaster Response Drones Jul 8, 2026 34:22 In episode 444 of UAV News Talk, Max Trescott and David Vanderhoof announce that the show is returning to a weekly schedule, then dive into a packed week of drone and eVTOL news. Video of the Week: Max taxiing by the Archer Midnight during testing at Salinas, CA. They begin with how aerial robotics supported Venezuela after devastating earthquakes, including bridge inspections, thermal imaging for
Drone Delivery, Flock Drones, eVTOL Forecasts, World Cup Drone Busts & Flying Into a Tornado
Drone Delivery, Flock Drones, eVTOL Forecasts, World Cup Drone Busts & Flying Into a Tornado Jul 2, 2026 36:52 Max Trescott and David Vanderhoof open episode 443 with their Video of the Week. It's a remarkable Sacramento Sheriff’s Office video showing a drone carrying a magnet into a cluttered house to remove a knife from the hand of an apparently unconscious armed suspect. They discuss the flying challenges of carrying a suspended load indoors and whether the magnet could affect the drone.The episode then
Can American Drone Technology Compete with DJI? HYFIX H1D, AI Drones, RTK GPS & U.S.-Made Chips
Can American Drone Technology Compete with DJI? HYFIX H1D, AI Drones, RTK GPS & U.S.-Made Chips Jun 22, 2026 37:37 Can American drone technology compete with DJI? In this episode of UAV News Talk, Max Trescott and David Vanderhoof talk with Mike Horton, CEO and co-founder of HYFIX Spatial Intelligence, about U.S.-made drone chips, AI drones, RTK GPS, and the HYFIX H1D drone module.Mike explains that one of DJI’s biggest advantages is deep electronics integration. Many American drone manufacturers still build d
Drone Delivery Expands, Pentagon’s Drone Arsenal & Honda eVTOL – UAV News Talk 441
Drone Delivery Expands, Pentagon’s Drone Arsenal & Honda eVTOL – UAV News Talk 441 Jun 16, 2026 37:45 In this episode of UAV News Talk, Max Trescott and David Vanderhoof cover a wide range of drone, UAS, counter-drone, and eVTOL stories. They begin with their video-of-the-week: an unusual drone-assisted police story from Louisiana, where officers used a drone to locate a fleeing suspect after he was bitten by an alligator in a swamp.The show then turns to Wing and Walmart, which are adding seven n
DJI Drone Ban, World Cup No-Drone Zones, and Archer Joby eVTOL Air Taxi Plans
DJI Drone Ban, World Cup No-Drone Zones, and Archer Joby eVTOL Air Taxi Plans Jun 3, 2026 32:29 Max Trescott and David Vanderhoof cover a packed week of drone and eVTOL news, starting with Eve Air Mobility’s latest hover and low-speed flight testing. They discuss how Eve’s Embraer connection and fixed-lift-rotor design differ from Archer and Joby, and why eVTOL certification, infrastructure, and public acceptance may be harder than the aircraft technology itself.The episode also looks at Arc
Counter-Drone Security: Shahed Drones in Cuba, World Cup Defense & eVTOL Air Taxis
Counter-Drone Security: Shahed Drones in Cuba, World Cup Defense & eVTOL Air Taxis May 20, 2026 32:30 David Vanderhoof returns to UAV News Talk after a six-month medical hiatus, joining Max Trescott for a wide-ranging discussion of drones, counter-UAS challenges, and the future of eVTOL air taxis.Max and David begin with David’s kidney transplant story and his return to the American Helicopter Museum, then move into the Air Force’s planned retirement of the MQ-9 Reaper and the military’s shift tow
Counter-UAS Drone Defense: Capturing Drones with LiDAR, Nets, and Parachutes
Counter-UAS Drone Defense: Capturing Drones with LiDAR, Nets, and Parachutes Dec 26, 2025 35:10 Max Trescott talks with David Hall, founder and CEO of Velodyne Space, about a new approach to counter-UAS defense that focuses on capturing drones using LiDAR, nets, and parachutes instead of destroying them.Hall begins by explaining LiDAR—Light Detection and Ranging—and how it measures distance by timing how long it takes for pulses of light to travel out and return. While LiDAR has existed for
Ukraine to Build Drones for the U.S., and Hobby Drone Bans Threaten STEM Education
Ukraine to Build Drones for the U.S., and Hobby Drone Bans Threaten STEM Education Oct 29, 2025 23:40 Max Trescott and David Vanderhoof tackle an unexpected reversal in global drone production and a growing crisis for the hobbyist drone community. The show opens with a headline few would have predicted a decade ago: Ukraine negotiating to produce drones for the U.S. military.David explains that after years of battlefield innovation, Ukrainian engineers have become world leaders in low-cost first-p
Germany’s Drone Crackdown, Sikorsky’s Autonomous Black Hawk, and FAA Shutdown Fallout — UAV News Talk 436
Germany’s Drone Crackdown, Sikorsky’s Autonomous Black Hawk, and FAA Shutdown Fallout — UAV News Talk 436 Oct 25, 2025 29:16 Episode 436 of UAV News Talk dives into global security, emerging automation, and the effects of Washington’s budget stalemate on the future of flight. Hosts Max Trescott and David Vanderhoof examine how nations, defense contractors, and innovators are redefining drone policy and autonomy at the same moment that the FAA’s own progress is slowed by the ongoing government shutdown.Germany authorize
FAA eVTOL Approvals, Drone-in-a-Box Tech, HALE Solar UAVs, and EHang’s African Debut
FAA eVTOL Approvals, Drone-in-a-Box Tech, HALE Solar UAVs, and EHang’s African Debut Sep 12, 2025 30:49 Max talks with David Vanderhoof in Episode 435 of UAV News Talk about an especially busy week in drone, eVTOL, and military UAV news. The episode covers new FAA certifications, autonomous launch systems, solar-powered endurance flights, Chinese technology in Africa, U.S. counter-drone readiness, and even a domestic security case involving explosives and drones. Together, these stories paint a vivi

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