One thing that didn't change, despite everything else that has been going around the world, is the ever-present movement of warbirds changing hands and locations around the world. Throughout the year there were various announcements as familiar favourites and some newly restored machines changed hands and moved to a new base, or even country. Whilst … Continue reading The More Things Change….2020’s Moving Warbirds
I certainly wasn't expecting the first aviation outing of 2019 to feature one of the rarest airworthy jets in the world. While the sight of a flying Gloster Meteor in the traditionally quiet early January was a welcome treat, it was most definitely bittersweet in that it would mark the final touchdown of a UK … Continue reading Gloster Meteor NF11 G-LOSM/WM167 Final Flight – Bruntingthorpe 5th January 2019
In this penultimate part of the Aero Engines series, I take a look at a small selection of the very first steps into jet power that spread from the early days of World War 2 right through to the early 1950s. By the late 1930s things were starting to move in the jet design world. … Continue reading Aero Engines of History Part 5 – Dawn of the Jet Age
The first part of this what if series took a little imagination, it saw two German WW1 fighters in hypothetical combat. This made for an interesting, if unlikely comparison. https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/21876035834/in/photolist-zk7piC-zZwPrh-AeQMUf-Ai7NU6-zZCuVr-AfXgiG-Ai7LYn-Ah8YQB-zZt3LE-Ai2ML4-Ah3SPP-Ah3S3Z-AeKgmw-Ah3suB-AhLtvg-ztvJDZ-tYPJMd-qdzF62-p6fbS9-f89gyT-f6R6bT-tJGM5k-u1LMY3-rPNKL3-s7c8dd-rdo5WJ-qY4Jx1-qY3FTd-rfCxvp-qBU2jz-nA16fD-ngytqN-ngyiaZ-ny429x-n1cmXr-fZRxeh-fZRLae-fZRgEk-fZRaiw-fZR6y9-fFdwYQ-evXUep-ecv18k-dYR3Zq-dYKmex-dYR3XC-dYKmdK-dYKmen-cykASj-cykARd Todays situation is one that was much more likely to come to pass and would have presented the first jet against jet dogfight in history. … Continue reading Warbird Tails What If – ME262 Vs Gloster Meteor
Back in August I went on holiday to Malta, besides the wonderful weather and spectacular scenery there is also a large amount of rich aviation heritage on offer. It was a great trip and as you will see below there were plenty of unique exhibits and airframes on show, I thought it would make a … Continue reading Malta’s Aviation History
Re-opening its doors to the public for the first time in 2016, the first year with a purpose built hangar in place, was the unique collection of aircraft that makes up the Gatwick Aviation Museum. The past few months have seen huge efforts go into the building and subsequent preparations of the new building as … Continue reading Gatwick Aviation Museum – Opening Weekend 2016
I didn’t have the highest of hopes on the drive over to Abingdon on Sunday morning, I should quickly clarify that any ill feeling was squarely aimed at mother nature and the weather and was to say nothing of the line up. Abingdon has long been a traditional season opener and always manages to pull … Continue reading Abingdon Air & Country Show: 3rd May 2015
Part two of the Warbird Tails jets series takes a look at the other British jet which took its first flight in 1943, the de Havilland Vampire. In the early days of Jet power, two engines were considered to be the minimum for succesful designs. This is evident in a number of the early jet … Continue reading Cold War Jets Part 2: The de Havilland Vampire
With last years controversial decision to close Manston airport there were concerns that the museums on site may be under threat as well. Thankfully this is not the case. I took my first visit last month to both museums on site since the airports closure. It was a real shame to see one of this … Continue reading Museum Profile: RAF Manston History Museum
The first part in this new Jet age series begins with the first allied operational Jet; The Gloster Meteor. Early Days One can't look at the early days of Jet aircraft in Britain without mentioning Sir Frank Whittle, who had pioneered jet powered flight during the second world war, culminating with the first flight of … Continue reading Cold War Jets Part 1: Gloster Meteor
Warbird Tails 