In aviation circles, there are a number of airfields and collections around the world that capture the imagination and become almost mythical as part of aviation folklore. Old Rhinebeck is most certainly amongst those legends, especially for those with an interest in those early years of aviation right through until the 1930s. Delicately nestled between … Continue reading Warbird People – Alex Jameison: Learning to Fly the Old Rhinebeck Collection
With the Waddington airshow coming to an end a few years back and Leuchars dropping off the agenda too, Cosford remains the final RAF organised show at a Royal Air Force base. This has meant that in recent years Cosford has had to rise to increasingly high expectations. Having the pull of the sole RAF … Continue reading RAF Cosford Airshow 2018 – RAF100
As well as interviews with modern day pilots and engineers of these historic aircraft I also wanted to focus in on the people who flew these aircraft while still in service. Sadly of course in a number of cases the opportunity to interview is no longer available, but where possible I have tried to delve into … Continue reading Warbird People: Frederick Dudley Travers DFC WW1 Ace and Flying Boat Pioneer
Following the success the company had been having with the Pup, Sopwith were keen to build further and make even more effective aircraft. The new design that Sopwith came out with began as a private venture by the Kingston based team, it featured the fuselage and tail of the pup, but had one major difference. … Continue reading Sopwith’s First World War Part 4 – The Triplane
Sopwith History: 1913 was an important year for aviation, December especially, as it marked 10 years since the Wright Brothers had made that first daring leap into the sky and changed the world. It was by this time that Thomas Sopwith had also begun to make his name. After his first flight in a Farnham … Continue reading Sopwith’s First World War Part 1: The Tabloid
This third part of this look back at WW1 aviation 100 years on looks at the collections that are keeping the memories and machines of the era alive. If you haven't already you may want to have a read of Part 1 and Part 2. From original First World War aerodromes to full collections of … Continue reading 100 Years: We Will Remember Part 3 – Living Memorials:
In part 1 of this post, I looked at the evolution of air warfare and fighting aircraft between 1914 and 1916, by which point the Germans very much had the upper hand. However as 1917 went on, things started to turn: Sopwith’s Rise: With Germany having asserted its dominance through the latter part of 1916 … Continue reading 100 Years: We Will Remember – Early Fighters Part 2:
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