With a summer blessed with such perfect weather, it is hardly surprising how often Old Warden features in this years' airshow moments. This instalment comes from the Military Pageant show in July. As mentioned in my review of this event published earlier, this represented the first time the WW1 themed airshow within the centenary period … Continue reading Airshow Moment 2018 8 – Old Warden WW1 Parade
The last post in this series took a look at some of the early jet engine designs that were underdevelopment or flown in the second world war. In this instalment lets take a look at some of the more unique designs used during the closing days of WW2 along with some iconic post war jet … Continue reading Aero Engines of History Part 6 – Rockets, Pulses and Post War
Following on from my introduction to Mr. Curtiss himself I wanted to feature a modern day operator of Curtiss types to offer a pilots insight into flying and operating these special machines. I was lucky enough to be able to catch a few words from Kermit Weeks, who operates a number of Curtiss types at … Continue reading The Curtiss Story Part 2: Curtiss According to Kermit – Kermit Weeks on flying Curtiss Aircraft
"A Machine of few vices and very capable is all aspects of flight” - Captain Crundall By 1917 Sopwith had laid some impressive foundations for fighting aircraft, providing many of the key aircraft of the war. Most of these types had all been based around the same basic design of the Tabloid from 1913. While … Continue reading Sopwith’s First World War – Part 7: The Dolphin
"Good god, your 1 1/2 Strutter has had a pup!" Those were the words of an RFC officer upon first seeing the new Sopwith Scout being testes in early 1916. Though very similar in construction to the Tabloid, this new Scout aircraft was far lighter than its older relative, allowing it to have a lower … Continue reading Sopwith’s First World War Part 3: The Sopwith Pup
Last year saw the unveiling of a new historic aviation organisation in the UK, the World War One Aviation Heritage Trust (WAHT) with the simple message of providing an enduring collection of WW1 aircraft representative of both British and German forces. They hope to keep an increasing collection of these aircraft displaying in front of … Continue reading 2015 Preview – World War One Aviation Heritage Trust Ltd
It is a shame to start February off on a note of regret, but I didn't feel I could let the passing of US Navy ace Alexander Vraciu on the 29th January go unnoticed on this page. Without the brave men who flew these aircraft we love so much into war, we may very well … Continue reading Warbird People: Lt. Alex Vraciu – Hellcat Legend
Events up and down the country often come and go, some go and come back, some never really get going and a few are still sorely missed to this day. Wings and Things is certainly in the latter category. Held at Rob Davies farm strip at Woodchurch in Kent the show always offered a unique … Continue reading Ghosts Of Airshows Past 2 – Wings and Things – Woodchurch
I can’t have been the only one to have visited Hendon a number of times over the last few years and only manage to get into the elusive Grahame-White factory once. Up until recently this wonderful 1915 building only opened once or twice a week and only for short periods of time. I always felt … Continue reading First World War In The Air – RAF Museum London
70 Years ago today, the unique Heinkel He162 jet fighter first flew in the hands of test pilot Gotthard Peter. The HE162 Salamander was a single seat, single engine jet fighter. It was designed to be quick and easy to produce as well as being more reliable and cost effective than the Me262. The aircraft … Continue reading HE162 Salamander First Flight
Warbird Tails 