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.
385 Articles

Grounded Dreams: Hughes D-2 – How Howard Hughesโ€™ Secret Plane Lost Its Wings

Howard Hughes D-2 aircraft was meant to impress the US military but became one of…

Aces: Karl Thom – How An Enlisted Soldier Became An Elite Fighter Legend

Karl Thom overcame wounds, capture, and multiple crashes to become Jasta 21's top WWI ace…

Grounded Dreams: McDonnell XF-88 Voodoo – The Strategic Fighter Left Behind

The McDonnell XF-88 Voodoo won the US Air Force's penetration fighter competition but was canceled…

Grounded Dreams of the Martin XB-51 Three-Engine Attacker

The Martin XB-51 was an innovative tri-jet bomber that outperformed many fighters in speed and…

Grounded Dreams: Vought XSB3U – How The Ultimate Scout Biplane Lost To Modernity

The Vought XSB3U was the US Navy's last experimental biplane scout-bomber, but superior monoplane performance…

Aces: Paul Billik – The Elite Black Squadron Commander Who Lost The Blue Max

Paul Billik scored 31 aerial victories in WWI, making him the highest-scoring German fighter ace…

Grounded Dreams: Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne – How The Ultra-Fast Gunship Lost Its Wings

The Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne was a revolutionary high-speed attack helicopter, but crashes, rising costs, and…

Grounded Dreams: Curtiss XP-60 – How Americaโ€™s Endless Redesign Killed A Fighter

The Curtiss XP-60 was an ambitious WWII fighter that underwent multiple engine redesigns, but persistent…

Aces: Stanley Rosevear – The Camel Commander Who Fought For His Country

Canadian WWI ace Stanley Rosevear scored 25 aerial victories, including 17 in a Sopwith Camel,…

Grounded Dreams: Douglas XB-42 Mixmaster – The Rear Propeller Bomber Outpaced By Jets

The Douglas XB-42 Mixmaster was an innovative high-speed WWII bomber that rivaled fighter aircraft in…