WWI Biplanes: The Birth of Air Combat
How the biplanes of the First World War turned the aeroplane into a weapon and created the fighter, the bomber and modern air combat, with the great aircraft, aces and tactics of 1914 to 1918. Read article
Category: Aviation History
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Hawker Aircraft: A Century of British Fighters
The history of Hawker Aircraft, from the Sopwith collapse and the Hart and Fury biplanes through the Hurricane and Hunter to the Harrier jump jet. Read article
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Supermarine: From the Schneider Trophy to the Spitfire
The full history of Supermarine: Woolston, the Schneider Trophy racers, R. J. Mitchell, the Spitfire, the bombing of the works and the last jets. Read article
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The V-Bombers: Britain’s Cold War Deterrent (Valiant, Vulcan, Victor)
The Valiant, the Vulcan and the Victor: how Britain built three strategic jet bombers to carry its nuclear deterrent, what they actually did, and where to see the survivors. Read article
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The Berlin Airlift: Aviation’s Greatest Humanitarian Mission
How the Western Allies fed a blockaded city of two million entirely by air: the aircraft of the Berlin Airlift, the Tunner system, the Easter Parade, the cost, and where the survivors are today. Read article
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The First Powered Flight: The Wright Flyer, 1903
The first powered flight in history was made by Orville Wright on 17 December 1903 at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, when the Wright Flyer flew 120 feet in 12 seconds, the first time a machine carrying a man had lifted itself into the air by its own power, travelled under control, and landed no Read article
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Breaking the Sound Barrier: Chuck Yeager and the Bell X-1
On 14 October 1947 Chuck Yeager flew the Bell X-1 through the sound barrier. The full story: the programme, the broken ribs, the flight and its legacy. Read article
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The Day Concorde First Flew: 2 March 1969
The full story of Concorde’s first flight on 2 March 1969: the treaty that built it, the taxi trials, André Turcat’s maiden flight from Toulouse, Brian Trubshaw’s British first flight five weeks later, and everything that followed. Read article
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The Battle of Britain: The Aircraft That Won the Skies
The Battle of Britain aircraft that decided 1940: Hurricane, Spitfire and Bf 109 compared, the radar system behind them, and how the RAF won the first battle fought entirely in the air. Read article
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Vickers Wellington: The Geodetic Bomber
The full Vickers Wellington history: Barnes Wallis’s geodetic design, the RAF’s first raids, the Leigh Light U-boat war, every major variant and the two survivors. Read article