James Kightly (Commissioning Editor)

About James Kightly (Commissioning Editor)

James Kightly, from Melbourne, Australia, discovered his passion for aviation at the Moorabbin collection in the late 1960s. With over 30 years of writing experience for aviation magazines in the UK, US, Australia, and France, he is a feature writer for Aeroplane Monthly and an advisor for the RAAF History & Heritage Branch.

James has interviewed aviation professionals worldwide and co-runs the Aviation Cultures conferences. He has flown in historic aircraft like the Canadian Warplane Heritage’s Lancaster. At Vintage Aviation News, he ensures accurate and insightful aviation history articles.

Outside aviation, James has worked extensively in the book trade and museums. He supports the Moorabbin Air Museum and the Shuttleworth Collection. James lives in rural Victoria with his wife and dog.

Germany’s Hangar 10 Changes Hands

August 5, 2023 James Kightly (Commissioning Editor) 0

By James Kightly A pre-eminent European warbird collection, Hangar 10 in Germany, is entering new ownership after the tragic loss of founder Volker Schülke, in an aviation accident. While the collection has been understandably quiet […]

Wings Over Britain – Update

July 24, 2023 James Kightly (Commissioning Editor) 0

Update of Dave Homewood of New Zealand’s trip around the UK under the ‘Wings over Britain’ title, a spinoff from Wings over New Zealand Podcast. The first four weeks of the five-week Wings Over Britain […]

Aviation Cultures Mk.VII – Free Online Open Conference

July 18, 2023 James Kightly (Commissioning Editor) 0

Aviation Cultures Conference, Mk.VII will take place this Thursday and Friday (July 20th/21st 2023 Eastern Australian time). The well-respected and entertaining annual conference has something for almost everyone interested in flight, varying from aviation archeology […]

Ukrainian Hurricane Wrecks Discovery

July 5, 2023 James Kightly (Commissioning Editor) 2

It is rare in the 2020s for a previously unknown cache of aircraft remains to be revealed, but that’s exactly what broke at the end of June 2023, with the announcement of a set of […]

Yealands Classic Fighters – Easter 2023

July 4, 2023 James Kightly (Commissioning Editor) 0

By James Kightly & Nigel Hitchman Re-establishing airshows post Covid has been a challenge worldwide, and for venues more far flung than others, a different kind of challenge. In New Zealand, over the last two […]

Cierva C.4 Autogiro Replica Flies in Spain

March 31, 2023 James Kightly (Commissioning Editor) 1

Translated report – Many thanks to José Manuel Gil, ‘Sandglass Patrol’ Just two months past the centenary marking the first successful autogyro flight, a modern replica of that same aircraft, a Cierva C.4 Autogiro*, flew […]

Short Stirling Tail Section on Display at RAF Museum

March 29, 2023 James Kightly (Commissioning Editor) 3

An enigmatic aircraft section recently went on display at Royal Air Force Museum London in the UK. The new exhibit features the battered tail section from Short Stirling Mk.III LK488, and represents one of the largest […]

Newark Air Museum’s Golden Jubilee Event

March 22, 2023 James Kightly (Commissioning Editor) 0

On 14 April, 2023 the Newark Air Museum (NAM) Nottinghamshire, UK, will have been officially open to the public for fifty years. To celebrate this golden jubilee anniversary, NAM is hosting a two-day special event […]

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Highly Authentic Harvard Flies in New Zealand

March 19, 2023 James Kightly (Commissioning Editor) 0

Bevan Dewes’ immaculately restored, former Royal New Zealand Air Force Harvard Mk.IIa (NZ1044) landed at its new home in Masterton, New Zealand on March 19th, 2023 following a three-year rebuild effort with Twenty24 Ltd, at Wanaka. […]

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Historic Airshows: Avalon, Australia 1992

March 14, 2023 James Kightly (Commissioning Editor) 5

by James Kightly Over 30 years ago, an exceptional airshow took place in Australia. Here we take a look back at it, while also bringing some of the story up to date. In 1992, following […]