Kapil Kajal

Kapil is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience. Reported across a wide range of beats with a particular focus on air warfare and military affairs, his work is shaped by a deep interest in twentieth‑century conflict, from both World Wars through the Cold War and Vietnam, as well as the ways these histories inform contemporary security and technology.
385 Articles

Aces of War: Heinrich Gontermann – The Blue Max Hero of Jasta 15

Heinrich Gontermann, a German WWI ace with 39 victories, rose from cavalry officer to fighter…

Grounded Dreams: Promavia Jet Squalus – A Belated Attempt to Redefine Pilot Training

Promavia Jet Squalus was a lightweight multi-role trainer designed for military and civilian use, but…

Boneyard Files: Sikorsky H-34 – The Multi-Utility Workhorse of the Fifties

Sikorsky H-34, a versatile 1950s military helicopter, served in Vietnam, Algeria and beyond before retirement…

Flight Test Files: Tupolev Tu-144LL – The NASA Supersonic Research Program

NASA and Russia used the Tupolev Tu-144LL in the 1990s to study supersonic flight, gathering…

Aces of the Great War: Percy Jack Clayson – The S.E.5a Master of No. 1 Squadron

Percy Jack Clayson rose from WWI mechanic to ace with 29 victories in the S.E.5a…

Grounded Dreams: Waco Model W Aristocraft – The Last Breath of a Legend

Waco Model W Aristocraft was an unconventional postwar light aircraft with innovative design, but despite…

Aces of War: Carl Menckhoff – The Knight of the Albatros

Carl Menckhoff, one of Germany’s oldest WWI aces, scored 39 victories and led Jagdstaffel 72…

Aces: Oswald Boelcke – The Father of the German Air Force

Oswald Boelcke shaped WWI air combat, creating the first fighter tactics and training aces like…

Grounded Dreams: Boeing Skyfox – Reviving the Legacy of the T-33 Shooting Star

Boeing Skyfox aimed to modernize the aging T-33 into a low-cost jet trainer with better…

Boneyard Files: McDonnell F-101 Voodoo – The Silver Phantoms of the Desert

F-101 Voodoo evolved from bomber escort to interceptor and reconnaissance jet, serving in Cold War…