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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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,…

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…

Grounded Dreams: Curtiss XF15C – The Mixed Power Mismatch

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

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…

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…

Aces of the Great War: Reginald Hoidge – The Sharpshooter of Fifty Six Squadron

Canadian WWI ace Reginald Hoidge rose from artillery service to become one of No. 56…

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…

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…

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

New Zealandโ€™s unusual PL-11 Airtruck agricultural aircraft showed promise but failed amid crashes, delays and…

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the IAI Astra

March 19, 1984 marked the first flight of the IAI Astra, a twin-engine business jet…

The Forgotten Harrier

While awaiting the delivery of the McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II, NAVAIR and McDonnell Douglas…

Flight Test Files: MD-11 – Pioneering Safe Landings with Propulsion Controlled Aircraft

How NASA tested Propulsion Controlled Aircraft (PCA) on an F-15 and MD-11, proving an airplane…

Aces of the Great War: Harold Albert Kullberg – The Short-Stature Giant of the S.E.5

Harold Albert Kullberg, rejected by the US Air Service, became a World War I ace…