Aviation History

Aviation history is a story of ingenuity, courage, and constant innovation, shaped by the people, machines, and moments that pushed flight beyond its limits. From fragile wood-and-fabric pioneers to record-breaking jets and enduring warbirds, each era reflects the technological ambitions and human spirit of its time. At Vintage Aviation News, we explore these stories in depth, preserving the legacy of historic aircraft, airfields, and the men and women who built, flew, maintained, and restored them—ensuring that the past continues to inform and inspire the future of flight.

AirCorps Restorations
Alan Armstrong 729
Gosshawk 729
Gary Velasco 729

Flying Aces: Captain Alexander Beck’s 11 Victories Above the Western Front

Captain Alexander Beck became a World War I flying ace at just 18, scoring 11…

Kapil Kajal

The Case of the Snowbound Soldier

A frozen World War II airman discovered in California’s Sierra Nevada led investigators on a…

Michael W. Michelsen Jr.

India’s Lone Ace: Indra Lal Roy’s Ten Victories Over the Western Front

Indra Lal Roy was India’s first flying ace, scoring ten victories in weeks during World…

Kapil Kajal

Starfighter versus Tomcat: How the Italian F-104 Outmatched the U.S. Navy’s F-14 Tomcat with the Yo-Yo Tactic

A remarkable Cold War-era encounter saw an Italian Air Force F-104 Starfighter outmaneuver a U.S.…

Guest Author

Making Aircraft Survivable: Abraham Wald’s Counterintuitive Armor Theory

Abraham Wald’s World War II survivability theory revealed how bomber armor should be placed, using…

Michael W. Michelsen Jr.

Francesco Baracca: The Italian WWI Ace Who Gave Ferrari Its Horse

Francesco Baracca, Italy’s leading World War I ace with 34 victories, rose from cavalry officer…

Kapil Kajal

Grounded Dreams: US Navy’s P6M SeaMaster and the End of Seaplane Bombers

The Martin P6M SeaMaster was a jet-powered Navy seaplane built for nuclear strike missions, but…

Kapil Kajal

The B-26 Marauder: From Widow-Maker to Master of Medium Bombing

Discover the evolution of the B-26 Marauder from feared “widow-maker” to a highly effective medium…

Chris Bucholtz

Grounded Dreams: Northrop F-20 Tigershark, One of the Best Fighters That Never Went Into Production

The F-20 Tigershark was fast, capable, and ahead of its time, but politics, timing, and…

Kapil Kajal

Avro Vulcan over the Falklands; XM597 and the Black Buck Raids

Avro Vulcan B.2 XM597 played a critical yet often overlooked role in the Falklands War’s…

Guest Author

Artemis II to Carry Wright Flyer Fabric as NASA Adjusts Pre-Launch Timeline

NASA’s Artemis II mission will fly a one-inch-square swatch of Wright Flyer fabric alongside other…

Moreno Aguiari

Operation Freeze

In 1944, Marine Corsair pilots in the South Pacific turned high altitude flights into an…

Michael W. Michelsen Jr.

Above Rivalries: A Navy–Air Force Rescue That Defined Service

In May 1967 over North Vietnam, a U.S. Air Force KC-135 and U.S. Navy aircraft…

Guest Author

Hawker Hurricane Over Victoria

A detailed look at the Hawker Hurricane’s defining role in the Battle of Britain, focusing…

Ronan Thomas