Hawker Siddeley Harrier: The Jump Jet Story
The complete history of the first-generation Hawker Siddeley Harrier: the P.1127 and Kestrel, the RAF GR.1 and GR.3, the Falklands, RAF Germany, Belize, and the AV-8A jump jet. Read article
Category: Aviation History
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English Electric Lightning: Britain’s Mach 2 Interceptor
It could stand on its tail and climb like a rocket, it was the only all-British aircraft ever to reach twice the speed of sound, and pilots said flying it was like being strapped to a skyrocket. This is the story of the English Electric Lightning. The Lightning is the aircraft that still draws a… Read article
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de Havilland Mosquito: The Wooden Wonder
It was built of wood when the rest of the world was building fighters from aluminium, it carried no defensive guns on its bomber versions, and it was one of the fastest and most versatile aircraft of the Second World War. This is the story of the de Havilland Mosquito. When de Havilland first proposed… Read article
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Hawker Hurricane: The Forgotten Hero of the Battle of Britain
The complete history of the Hawker Hurricane: its origins, fabric-and-tube design, the Battle of Britain, its many variants, worldwide service, surviving aircraft and lasting legacy. Read article
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McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II: The Cold War Workhorse
The complete history of the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II: origins, design, Vietnam combat, variants, foreign service, specifications and surviving aircraft. Read article
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North American P-51 Mustang: The Fighter That Changed the War
The full history of the North American P-51 Mustang, from a British purchasing request to the Merlin-engined fighter that escorted bombers to Berlin and back. Read article
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Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird: The Untouchable Spyplane
The complete history of the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird: from the A-12 and the engineering of Mach 3 flight to its service record, the records that still stand, and where the survivors are today. Read article
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Concorde: The Supersonic Airliner Story
The full history of Concorde, the Anglo-French supersonic airliner: its origins, design, the Olympus engines, entry into service in 1976, the 2000 Paris crash, retirement in 2003 and where to see the surviving aircraft today. Read article
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Avro Vulcan: The Cold War Delta Bomber
Few aircraft have ever looked the part of a nuclear bomber quite like the Avro Vulcan. The Avro Vulcan was a British delta-wing jet bomber that formed part of the RAF V-force nuclear deterrent through the Cold War, and flew its most famous raids against Port Stanley airfield during the 1982 Falklands War. A vast… Read article
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Avro Lancaster: Britain’s Heavy Bomber
The complete history of the Avro Lancaster: its origins in the failed Manchester, the Dambusters raid, variants, full specifications and where the surviving bombers are today. Read article