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.
493 Articles

Grounded Dreams: The Boeing Model 985 – The Mach 2+ Future That Never Was

A 1970s Air Force study explored launching Mach 2+ microfighters from a modified Boeing 747…

Aces of the Great War: James McCudden – Britain’s Master of the High-Altitude Intercept

James McCudden rose from RFC mechanic to Victoria Cross ace, scoring 57 victories through discipline,…

A Knight of the Air: The Victoria Cross Legacy of Captain Albert Ball

The story of Captain Albert Ball, Britain’s first great fighter ace and Victoria Cross recipient,…

Grounded Dreams: The Forward-Swept Ambition of the Convair XB-53

A Grounded Dreams feature on the Convair XB-53, exploring its forward-swept wing design, jet-age ambitions,…

Flight Test Files: North American P-51 Mustang – Learning to Trust Laminar Flow

How NACA used the P-51 Mustang to advance laminar flow, transonic research, and drag reduction,…

The Allied Ace of Aces: René Fonck’s Path to 75 Aerial Victories

René Fonck scored 75 aerial victories in World War I, becoming the highest-scoring Allied ace.…

Flight Test Files: Cessna T-37 – A High-Pitch Laboratory for Lateral Dynamics

How a small NASA T-37 jet flew deliberately into wake turbulence to help engineers understand…

The American Eagle in the RAF: Francis Warrington Gillet and the Great War

Francis Warrington Gillet, the American who flew with Britain’s RAF and became the top Sopwith…

The Albatross: A 1950s Seaplane Finds New Purpose in the 2020s

The Albatross returns. From the Grumman HU-16 rescue seaplane of the 1950s to the modern…

Grounded Dreams: Dornier Do 335, WWII’s Fastest Propeller Aircraft That Never Saw Combat

The Dornier Do 335 was a fast, unconventional World War II fighter whose advanced design…