Another week of lockdown and this new world gone by and time for another look back at a show many of us would be enjoying this weekend. The annual airshow at La Ferté-Alais near Paris in France is arguably the greatest celebration of flight around the world. The show covers everything from Edwardian pioneer machines … Continue reading Warbird Tails Looking Back – La Ferté-Alais
Next in this popular series is a look at perhaps the most iconic of the USAAF fighters of the second world war, the legendary P-51 Mustang. The D model is now the most prevalent and recognisable example of the type with the improved visibility of the teardrop canopy representing a design improvement from the earlier high … Continue reading Learning the Legends: Flying the P-51D Mustang “By the Book” World War 2 Pilots Notes Review
100 years have passed today since the end of the Great War. Though many believed it to be at the time to be the "war to end all wars" we sadly know that was not the case. Part of the work I am trying to do on this site is keep the memories of those … Continue reading 11.11.1918 – 11.11.2018
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
This month’s “Warbird People” sees me speak with Ed Vesely, the Commemorative Air Force’s (CAF) Helldiver pilot, a self-described “caretaker of history” who takes on the responsibility of flying this unique airframe and keeping history alive telling the important stories of the veterans that flew the SB2C. Curtiss aircraft throughout the company’s history maintained that … Continue reading Warbird People – Ed Vesely on Flying the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
Unusually for August, traditionally one of the busiest airshow months of the year, I only managed to attend two shows. Both were great events at Old Warden and Little Gransden respectively. I know you all enjoy seeing photographs from these shows so while I'm putting together the main review I thought I'd start posting a … Continue reading August Airshow Photo Re-Cap
The art of espionage has played a key part in conflicts throughout history and has formed a central part of popular culture around the world. But before the glitz and glamour of Hollywood films, spies were carrying out covert operations into enemy territory during the darkest days of the Second World War. Getting into and, more importantly, … Continue reading Aircraft Profile – Westland Lysander
Rounding off my 2015 coverage of the Shuttleworth Collection shows a little out of sequence is the September “Shuttleworth Pageant” show. The premise of this show is simple, the collection aim to get as many of their airworthy aircraft in the air as possible. I’ll start by getting the disappointment of the day out of … Continue reading The Shuttleworth Pageant Airshow – 7th September 2015
The early autumn sun casts an atmospheric glow across the English countryside as the 50hp Gnome rotary engine gently encourages the Blackburn Type D monoplane in elegant turns around the airfield. Time seems to stand still whenever this beautiful piece of history takes to the skies and the October 2015 show at Old Warden was … Continue reading Shuttleworth Uncovered – 4th October 2015
Headcorn has been a magnet for exciting and rare aircraft for many years now, as has been highlighted on a number of these posts in the past, on the most part these aircraft have all come from civilian operators or owners. While the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight have visited by air a number of … Continue reading AB910 Drops in to Headcorn
Warbird Tails 