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.
65 Articles

Flight Test Files: Lockheed F-104 Starfighter – Mastering the Aerodynamics of the Razor-Thin Wing

How NASA used the F-104 Starfighter’s razor-thin wing to explore supersonic handling, shuttle approaches, and…

Kapil Kajal

From the Racetrack to the Clouds: The 26 Victories of Captain Edward Rickenbacker

From mechanic and racing driver to America’s leading WWI ace, Edward Rickenbacker’s 26 victories reflected…

Kapil Kajal

Grounded Dreams: Junkers G.38, a Flying Palace Failed by History

The Junkers G.38 was a flying palace ahead of its time, offering luxury air travel…

Kapil Kajal

Grounded Dreams: The Titanium Ghost of the Sukhoi T-4

The Sukhoi T-4 “Sotka,” a Mach 3 titanium strike aircraft that promised invulnerability but collapsed…

Kapil Kajal

Flight Test Files: F-100 Super Sabre-Lessons from the Mach 1 Frontier

NACA used the F-100 Super Sabre to study supersonic stability, pilot workload, and sonic boom…

Kapil Kajal

Australia’s Greatest Ace: Robert A. Little and the Skies of the Great War

A deeply researched Aces profile of Robert A. Little, Australia’s highest-scoring World War I fighter…

Kapil Kajal

Grounded Dreams of a Mach 2 Future: The Mikoyan-Gurevich Ye-8 Chronicles

The Ye-8 sought to replace the MiG-21 with radar, missiles, and Mach-2 performance, but engine…

Kapil Kajal

Flight Test Files: Republic F-105 Thunderchief – The Quest for Low-Level Supersonic Dominance

How brief studies at the Edwards Air Force Base helped shape the F-105 Thunderchief, a…

Kapil Kajal

Italy’s Second Ace: The 26 Victories of Silvio Scaroni

Silvio Scaroni, Italy’s second-highest WWI ace, scored 26 victories through steady combat flying rather than…

Kapil Kajal

Grounded Dreams: Inside the XF5U, the Navy’s Strangest Fighter That Never Flew

The Vought XF5U “Flying Pancake” was a radical Navy fighter that promised extreme performance but…

Kapil Kajal