Articles

Explore in-depth articles on aviation history, featuring stories about legendary aircraft, historic missions, pioneering pilots, and the evolution of military and civilian aviation. Dive into the rich legacy of flight through expertly researched warbird features and historical retrospectives.

AirCorps Restorations
Alan Armstrong 729
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Gary Velasco 729

TRAGEDY OVER TAIWAN

On January 23, 1956, Lts Keith Hanna and Lee Banigan took off from an airbase…

Stephen Chapis

Flight Test Files: The X-2 Starbuster – A Pioneer of Aerodynamic Heating

The Bell X-2 Starbuster pushed flight beyond Mach 3 and 126,000 feet, advancing research on…

Kapil Kajal

Grounded Dreams: Saab 210 Lilldraken – The 70% Scale Proof of Concept

Saab 210 Lilldraken tested the double-delta wing, leading to the Mach 2 Saab 35 Draken…

Kapil Kajal

Today In Aviation History: Launch of Gemini III

On March 23, 1965, NASA launched Gemini III, the first crewed mission of Project Gemini,…

Austin Hancock

Boneyard Files: KC-97 Stratofreighter – Behind the Scenes of a Forgotten Giant

The KC-97 Stratofreighter, an aerial refueling tanker based on the B-29, served the US Air…

Kapil Kajal

Randy’s Warbird Profiles: Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw

An in-depth profile of the Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw, covering its design, combat service, global operators,…

Adam Estes

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the Valmet PIK-23 Towmaster

March 22, 1982 marked the first flight of the Valmet PIK-23 Towmaster, a Finnish composite-built…

Austin Hancock

Grounded Dreams: Curtiss XF15C – The Mixed Power Mismatch

The Curtiss XF15C mixed-propulsion fighter combined piston and jet engines but was cancelled as pure…

Kapil Kajal

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the Curtiss HA

March 21, 1918 marked the first flight of the Curtiss HA, a U.S. seaplane fighter…

Austin Hancock

Flight Test Files: F-4 Phantom II – Exploring the Limits of Aerodynamics and Sonic Boom

How NASA used the F-4 Phantom II for unusual research, from biomedical monitoring flights and…

Kapil Kajal

Grounded Dreams: Kawasaki Ki-64 – Harnessing the Complexity of the Wing Surface Radiator

The Kawasaki Ki-64 twin-engine fighter used a unique tandem engine and vapor cooling system but…

Kapil Kajal

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the IAR-822

March 20, 1970 marked the first flight of the Romanian-built IAR-822, an agricultural aircraft developed…

Austin Hancock

Grounded Dreams: PL-11 Airtruck – The Flying Hopper That Defied Conventions

New Zealand’s unusual PL-11 Airtruck agricultural aircraft showed promise but failed amid crashes, delays and…

Kapil Kajal