Vintage Aviation News

From Enemies to Brothers

December 20, 2016 Moreno Aguiari 0

73 years ago today, one of World War II’s most incredible moments took place… As German fighter ace Franz Stigler approached the badly damaged American B-17, he took his finger off the trigger. “My God, […]

F-104 Record

December 14, 2016 Moreno Aguiari 4

Fifty eight years ago today, a F-104C piloted by Lt William T. Smith and Einar K. Envoldson from the 538th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, zoomed to 103,395 feet setting a world altitude record. Designed as a supersonic […]

IMG 8868 R.M.Allnutt photo Georgetown Flyin Georgetown DE September 27 2003

Happy Birthday to the Supermarine Spitfire

March 5, 2016 Moreno Aguiari 4

The Supermarine Spitfire flew for the first time eighty years ago today. A single-seat fighter and interceptor, the Spitfire is the most famous British aircraft of all time. A small, graceful, elliptical-wing fighter, the Spitfire […]

David Cenciotti photo Italian Air Force F 104S MM6930 small

Happy Birthday to the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter

March 4, 2016 Moreno Aguiari 3

Exactly sixty-two years ago today, the very first Lockheed Starfighter took to the skies over Edwards Air Force Base with legendary test pilot, Tony LeVier at the controls. Technically, it was not the first flight […]

Happy Birthday To The Consolidated B-24 Liberator

December 29, 2015 Moreno Aguiari 9

By Aviation Enthusiasts LLC The Consolidated B-24 Liberator flew for the first time 76 years ago today. Newer, more efficient and more versatile than the B-17 Flying Fortress, more Liberators were built than any other […]

Happy Birthday To The Douglas C-47 Skytrain

December 23, 2015 Moreno Aguiari 2

By Aviation Enthusiasts LLC The Douglas C-47 Skytrain flew for the first time 73 years ago today. Developed from the Douglas DC-3, the C-47 was the most widely-used transport of World War II. Douglass built […]

Happy Birthday To The McDonnell F2H Banshee

January 11, 2015 Moreno Aguiari 1

By Aviation Enthusiasts LLC The McDonnell F2H Banshee flew for the first time 68 years ago today. Affectionately known by those who flew it as the “Old Banjo,” the F2H served the Navy and the […]

Happy Birthday To The Grumman F-14 Tomcat

December 21, 2014 Moreno Aguiari 2

By www.aviation-enthusiasts.com The Grumman F-14 Tomcat flew for the first time 44 years ago today. The F-14 emerged from the failed F-111B, which left the Navy without a successor for the F-4 Phantom in the […]

Happy Birthday To The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver

December 18, 2014 Moreno Aguiari 0

By Aviation Enthusiasts LLC Seventy-four years ago today, the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver took flight for the first time. A carrier-based dive and torpedo bomber, the Helldiver was designed to replace the Douglas SBD Dauntless. SB2Cs […]

Happy Birthday To The Beechcraft T-34 Mentor

December 2, 2014 Moreno Aguiari 0

By Aviation Enthusiasts LLC Sixty-six years ago today, the Beechcraft T-34 Mentor took flight for the first time. A two-seat pilot trainer, the T-34 developed from the Beechcraft 35 Bonanza and was the west’s most […]

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