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.

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Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the Aermacchi AL-60

On February 15, 1959, the Aermacchi AL-60 made its first flight. Designed by Al Mooney,…

Austin Hancock

Grounded Dreams: McDonnell XF-85 Goblin, The Fighter That Lived Inside a Bomber

The XF-85 Goblin was a tiny jet fighter designed to fly inside a bomber, but…

Kapil Kajal

The Flying Tiger Line: How a Wartime Legacy Shaped Global Air Cargo

A chronological history of The Flying Tiger Line, tracing its origins with the WWII Flying…

Guest Author

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.

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the Short S.8 Calcutta

On February 14, 1928, the Short S.8 Calcutta made its first flight, introducing Britain’s first…

Austin Hancock

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

Today In Aviation History: First Public Display of a Purpose-Built Warplane

On February 13, 1913, the Vickers E.F.B.1 Destroyer became the first purpose-built warplane publicly displayed,…

Austin Hancock

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

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the Sikorsky S-52

On February 12, 1947, the Sikorsky S-52 made its first flight, introducing all-metal rotor blades…

Austin Hancock

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

Randy’s Vintage Profiles: Curtiss Model 51 Fledgling

In this issue, lifelong aviation enthusiast Randy Malmstrom examines a rare Curtiss Model 51 Fledgling…

Adam Estes