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
Gosshawk 729
Gary Velasco 729

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the Bell L-39

April 23, 1946 marked the first flight of the Bell L-39, an experimental aircraft used…

Austin Hancock

The First of the Grummans: The Grumman FF-1 at the National Naval Aviation Museum

At the National Naval Aviation Museum, a Canadian-built fighter that served Nicaragua honors the legacy…

Adam Estes

Boneyard Files: Curtiss C-46 Commando – The Final Resting Place of the Curtiss Giant

Curtiss C-46 Commando, a heavy WWII transport, played a key role over the Himalayas and…

Kapil Kajal

Flight Test Files: Convair CV-990 Coronado – A Journey Through Landing Gear Research

NASA used the Convair CV-990 Coronado to test space shuttle landing gear, tires, and braking…

Kapil Kajal

Randy’s Warbird Profiles: Curtiss JN-4D Jenny

An in-depth look at the Curtiss JN-4D Jenny at Seattleโ€™s Museum of Flight, exploring its…

Adam Estes

Aces of War: Leonard Rochford – The Master of the Sopwith Camel

Leonard Rochford, a self-trained WWI flying ace, scored 29 victories and later served in WWII,…

Kapil Kajal

Grounded Dreams: Northrop X-21A – The Wing That Breathed

Northrop X-21A tested laminar flow control to reduce drag and improve efficiency, proving the concept…

Kapil Kajal

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the Lavochkin La-168

April 22, 1948 marked the first flight of the Lavochkin La-168, a Soviet swept-wing jet…

Austin Hancock

Grounded Dreams: Northrop YF-17 – From Air Force Rejection to the F/A-18 Hornet

Northrop YF-17 lost the US Air Forceโ€™s Lightweight Fighter contest but evolved into the F/A-18…

Kapil Kajal

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the Rollason Beta

April 21, 1967 marked the first flight of the Rollason Beta, a British midget racer…

Austin Hancock

Flight Test Files: Beechcraft B200 Super King Air – The Workhorse Behind Critical NASA Missions

Beechcraft B200 Super King Air serves NASA as a versatile research aircraft, supporting radar, ocean…

Kapil Kajal

Aces of War: Marcel Haegelen – The Two-War Defender of France

Marcel Haegelen was a French ace who scored 23 victories in WWI and added another…

Kapil Kajal

Grounded Dreams: Hughes XV-9 – Pioneering Hot-Cycle Propulsion in Helicopters

Hughes XV-9 tested hot-cycle propulsion with tip-jet rotors in the 1960s, proving the concept but…

Kapil Kajal

Today In Aviation History: Northrop Alpha Enters Airline Service

April 20, 1931 marked the Northrop Alphaโ€™s entry into airline service, introducing a fast all-metal…

Austin Hancock