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 twentiethโ€‘century conflict, from both World Wars through the Cold War and Vietnam, as well as the ways these histories inform contemporary security and technology.
419 Articles

Grounded Dreams: Cierva W.9 – The Jet Tail Experiment of 1945

Cierva W.9 tested a tail-rotorless helicopter concept during WWII, pioneering early NOTAR ideas before its…

Boneyard Files: Douglas A-1 Skyraider – The Last Piston Powerhouse in the Desert

Douglas A-1 Skyraider served from Korea to Vietnam as a rugged close-support aircraft, later ending…

Flight Test Files: Learjet 24 – Exploring the Cosmos from 50,000 Feet Above

Learjet 24 helped NASA pioneer airborne astronomy, enabling high-altitude infrared observations and laying the foundation…

Aces: Charles Dawson Booker – The 29 Victories of Sopwith Triplane Master

WWI ace Charles Dawson Booker scored 29 victories at maritime fronts, rising to RAF command…

Grounded Dreams: Bristol XLRQ – The Silent Glider of the Pacific

Bristol XLRQ aimed to give US Marines amphibious glider capability in WWII, but shifting doctrine…

Grounded Dreams: Bernard H.V.220 – The French Speed King That Never Raced

Bernard H.V.220 aimed to compete in the 1931 Schneider Trophy, but engine failures and delays…

Boneyard Files: Lockheed P-2 Neptune – The Cold War Sub Hunter in the Sand

Lockheed P-2 Neptune, a long-range maritime patrol aircraft, served in Cold War and Vietnam missions…

Aces of the Great War: Armand Pinsard – The Escape Artist of the SPAD XIII

WWI ace Armand Pinsard, a prewar pilot, escaped captivity, scored 27 victories, and later rose…

Grounded Dreams: Dassault Mirage III V – The Supersonic Vertical Paradox

Dassault Mirage III V explored Mach 2 vertical flight, but complexity, crashes and rising costs…

Flight Test Files: F-111 Aardvark – The Journey of the Supercritical Wing

NASA used the F-111 Aardvark to test supercritical wings, fly-by-wire and adaptive wing tech, shaping…