These articles are listed in (rough) chronological order. The date on which they were written is shown to make sense of any remarks on contemporary situations.
The Early Years
Sir George Cayley - His passenger-carrying glider flew more than 50 years before the Wright brothers’.
Who really was the First to Fly? - The Wright deniers make their case
Charlie Taylor and the Wright Bros - the essential supporter of the Wrights. He built their first engine.
John Dunne’s Uncapsizable Aeroplanes - His clever design was the first aeroplane bought by the War Office, the US Signal Corps and the Canadian military.
Howard Pixton - Britain’s First Test Pilot - principal support for A V Roe’s early aeroplanes, tested and sold Bristols and won the 1914 Schneider Trophy race.
Sir George Cayley - His passenger-carrying glider flew more than 50 years before the Wright brothers’.
Who really was the First to Fly? - The Wright deniers make their case
Charlie Taylor and the Wright Bros - the essential supporter of the Wrights. He built their first engine.
John Dunne’s Uncapsizable Aeroplanes - His clever design was the first aeroplane bought by the War Office, the US Signal Corps and the Canadian military.
Howard Pixton - Britain’s First Test Pilot - principal support for A V Roe’s early aeroplanes, tested and sold Bristols and won the 1914 Schneider Trophy race.
Bleriot's Channel Centenary - Bleriot’s earlier aeroplanes and the successful Mk XI.
Who Won the Channel Prize? The rich reward that Bleriot couldn’t claim.
Harriet Quimby - The first American woman to become a licensed pilot and the first woman pilot to fly across the English Channel. Just three months later she died in a tragic accident in Boston.
Australia's First - Who was the first to fly in Australia?
Who Won the Channel Prize? The rich reward that Bleriot couldn’t claim.
Harriet Quimby - The first American woman to become a licensed pilot and the first woman pilot to fly across the English Channel. Just three months later she died in a tragic accident in Boston.
Australia's First - Who was the first to fly in Australia?
Balloon Bail-out - the early parachute jumps and the girl whose deliberate jumps didn’t always go well.
World War I (includes the life stories of careers which began in WWI)
The RNAS in Belgium - They attacked Zeppelins and submarines and introduced triplanes to the air war.
Sidney Cotton - His extra-ordinary achievements, mostly unauthorised.
Frank T Courtney - He learned to fly with Graham White and despite having to wear spectacles, flew in WWI and became a life-long test pilot, in Europe and the USA.
Igor Sikorsky - A brief look at his designs, helicopter, 4-engined bomber, flying boat, helicopter.
Louis Arbon Strange - His action-packed career in two world wars
Sir Patrick Gordon Taylor - Navigator of the Southern Oceans - WWI fighter pilot, self-taught navigator, he made many pioneering flights over the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Between the Wars
Louis Arbon Strange - His action-packed career in two world wars
Sir Patrick Gordon Taylor - Navigator of the Southern Oceans - WWI fighter pilot, self-taught navigator, he made many pioneering flights over the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Between the Wars
Five Days to Egypt (1919) A hastily arranged flight that set a record.
The Double Crossing of the R34 (1919) A tremendous achievement which seemed to embarrass the Air Ministry.
The RAF in Somalia - (1920) The action which saved the RAF
Fokker Goes Gliding - and his factory manager’s 'lightweight' portable glider.
Airlift from Sulamania - (1922) 'Organise an evacuation - tomorrow’ was the order. And he did.
The Double Crossing of the R34 (1919) A tremendous achievement which seemed to embarrass the Air Ministry.
The RAF in Somalia - (1920) The action which saved the RAF
Fokker Goes Gliding - and his factory manager’s 'lightweight' portable glider.
Airlift from Sulamania - (1922) 'Organise an evacuation - tomorrow’ was the order. And he did.
The Roaring (Early) Twenties - Powering the smallest aeroplane with the biggest engine doesn’t necessarily produce the winner.
The 1923 Light Aeroplane Competition - The winner of one of the prizes still flies at Shuttleworth.
The 1924 Two Seater Aeroplane Competition - one of the entrants and a replica of another are Shuttleworth fliers.
Polar Flights of Amundsen and Byrd - The first flights over the Poles - both North and South.
The 1923 Light Aeroplane Competition - The winner of one of the prizes still flies at Shuttleworth.
The 1924 Two Seater Aeroplane Competition - one of the entrants and a replica of another are Shuttleworth fliers.
Polar Flights of Amundsen and Byrd - The first flights over the Poles - both North and South.
The Dole Air Race - (1927) The challenge to be first to fly from California to Hawaii ended tragically for many entrants.
Airlift from Kabul - (1928) There've been many retreats from Kabul. This one worked out rather well.
The Golden Age of Air Racing - (1929) US style racing, huge engines powering tiny, dangerous planes.
The Gugnunc - Handley Page was furious when his proof-of-concept design didn’t win the competition.
Airlift from Kabul - (1928) There've been many retreats from Kabul. This one worked out rather well.
The Golden Age of Air Racing - (1929) US style racing, huge engines powering tiny, dangerous planes.
The Gugnunc - Handley Page was furious when his proof-of-concept design didn’t win the competition.
Comper Swift (1930) An ‘absolutely excellent’ design with strong Shuttleworth connections.
How the Schneider Trophy was Won - The government couldn’t afford it but Lady Houston saved the day and the Trophy was won outright.
Piaggio PC-7 - An innovative design that could have won the Schneider Trophy
Sir Francis Chichester - His island-hopping flight from New Zealand to Australia in 1931 was interrupted by having to rebuild his Moth.
How the Schneider Trophy was Won - The government couldn’t afford it but Lady Houston saved the day and the Trophy was won outright.
Piaggio PC-7 - An innovative design that could have won the Schneider Trophy
Sir Francis Chichester - His island-hopping flight from New Zealand to Australia in 1931 was interrupted by having to rebuild his Moth.
Wiley Post - (1931) Despite losing an eye he became a qualified pilot, flew around the world twice and developed a pressure suit for flying high.
First Flight over Everest - (1933) They had to do it twice to get decent pictures.
Balbo - Chicago Bound - 1933 -He flew from Italy to the International Exhibition with 24 flying boats.
Jean Batten - (1934-37) Her long distance flights and her unusual lifestyle
1935 - 80th Anniversary - First flights, last flights, records and radios, all these and other odd events which took place as the pages of the 1935 calendar turned.
Arthur Edmond Clouston 1908 - 1984 - He came from New Zealand to join the RAF, and in 1935 became a test pilot.
The Ghost of Speke - (1936) -Tom Campbell Black - The accident that killed the MacRobertson Trophy winner,
RAF's Distance Records - (1933, 1938) Cranwell to Walvis Bay, Ismailia to Darwin.
Arthur Edmond Clouston 1908 - 1984 - He came from New Zealand to join the RAF, and in 1935 became a test pilot.
The Ghost of Speke - (1936) -Tom Campbell Black - The accident that killed the MacRobertson Trophy winner,
RAF's Distance Records - (1933, 1938) Cranwell to Walvis Bay, Ismailia to Darwin.
Steaming Through the Skies - Sir Hiram Maxim couldn’t make it work. The Besler brothers did.
Bail Out Bail Out - 1937 Sometimes, the aeroplane doesn’t want you to leave.
Croydon - Its Timor Terminus (1936) The prototype airliner abandoned on a reef in the Timor Sea.
The Flying Flea - Although the original model was banned in many countries, multiple variations live on.
Bail Out Bail Out - 1937 Sometimes, the aeroplane doesn’t want you to leave.
Croydon - Its Timor Terminus (1936) The prototype airliner abandoned on a reef in the Timor Sea.
The Flying Flea - Although the original model was banned in many countries, multiple variations live on.
Amelia Earhart - She leapt to fame as a passenger on a trans-Atlantic flight, went on to pilot her own long-distance and record flights, finally to disappear in the Pacific ocean.
Arthur Clouston and the Comet - In 1937 he found the wrecked Comet, had it rebuilt and flew, adventurously, to Damascus, South Africa and New Zealand.
Passengers in Wings - not the usual place to seat paying passengers.
‘Wrong Way’ Corrigan and the Compass Conundrum - (1938) Did he deliberately ‘mis-read his compass’ when he flew the Atlantic?
Alex Henshaw - his gruelling record flight to South Africa and back stood for 70 years.
Corsair Down (1939) The difficult recovery of the flying boat which came down in a little river in the African jungle.
Blackburn B20 A revolutionary and unique design for a flying boat
The Helping Hand - Add-a-wing to get off the ground or fly further.
World War II
Corsair Down (1939) The difficult recovery of the flying boat which came down in a little river in the African jungle.
Blackburn B20 A revolutionary and unique design for a flying boat
The Helping Hand - Add-a-wing to get off the ground or fly further.
World War II
The Plots Thicken - Aircraft Recognition and The Battle of Barking Creek
A Sideways Look at the Battle of Britain - The significant action in the North East
Tiger Tales - When the seemingly innocent Tiger flexed its claws and prepared for war.
The One Who Did Get Away - A Czech defects with a Hurricane.
Gliders at War - From Eben Emael, via Crete, Sicily, and Normandy to the Rhine, with a few interesting diversions.
A Sideways Look at the Battle of Britain - The significant action in the North East
Tiger Tales - When the seemingly innocent Tiger flexed its claws and prepared for war.
The One Who Did Get Away - A Czech defects with a Hurricane.
Gliders at War - From Eben Emael, via Crete, Sicily, and Normandy to the Rhine, with a few interesting diversions.
Hornet Moth to Freedom - A daring flight to deliver vital secrets to Britain.
A French Fighter Ace - He fought the Germans and Italians in France, the British in Syria then flew - and died with the Americans in Algeria.
Grrr-umman Wildcat - Designs from the ‘Iron Works’ are notoriously strong. This Wildcat dramatically justified that reputation.
Wulf-pack Disintegrates - A formation of four Focke-Wulf 190s falls apart
Beau Flies the Flag - and drops it over the Arc de Triomphe.
Mental DR to Morocco - The navigator left his maps behind, all English airfields were closed and there was nowhere else to go.
Signora essere buona - Italian for ‘Lady Be Good’. They also lost a bomber in the desert.
Don Berlin's Bitsa The hastily-designed fighter that failed to impress.
Mental DR to Morocco - The navigator left his maps behind, all English airfields were closed and there was nowhere else to go.
Signora essere buona - Italian for ‘Lady Be Good’. They also lost a bomber in the desert.
Don Berlin's Bitsa The hastily-designed fighter that failed to impress.
Spitfire over Scapa - A Spitfire VII shoots down a high-flying Bf 109.
Might-Have-Beens - The Spitfire Twin and Vickers 4-engined bomber, for instance.
Surreptitiously to Sweden - The under-the-radar ‘airline’
Supermarine Stranraer - R J Mitchell’s flying boat. Was the RAF Museum’s Stranraer really flown by Hughie Green?
Trans-Atlantic Tow - They did it successfully, but it’s not clear why.
Frank Tilley - 617 Sqn Frank’s crew bombed the Tirpitz, twice. His last op. ended in a crash in fog.
Runway in the Sky - No airfield, no carrier needed by these land-on-wire aircraft.
Subaeronautical Tales -Submarine aircraft carriers.
Might-Have-Beens - The Spitfire Twin and Vickers 4-engined bomber, for instance.
Surreptitiously to Sweden - The under-the-radar ‘airline’
Supermarine Stranraer - R J Mitchell’s flying boat. Was the RAF Museum’s Stranraer really flown by Hughie Green?
Trans-Atlantic Tow - They did it successfully, but it’s not clear why.
Frank Tilley - 617 Sqn Frank’s crew bombed the Tirpitz, twice. His last op. ended in a crash in fog.
Runway in the Sky - No airfield, no carrier needed by these land-on-wire aircraft.
Subaeronautical Tales -Submarine aircraft carriers.
Pathfinder’s Memorial - Intensive operations - 45 of them - with the Light Night Striking Force,
Experiences of a PR Pilot He flew every mark of PR Spitfire, his last op. on the last day of the war,
RAF Spilsby in 1945 - A South African's experience with a famous squadron.
Shoo Shoo (Shoo) Baby The many lives of a B-17. Has it one ‘Shoo’ too many?
Aleut Alert The bitter war against the Japanese and the weather in the North Pacific
Experiences of a PR Pilot He flew every mark of PR Spitfire, his last op. on the last day of the war,
RAF Spilsby in 1945 - A South African's experience with a famous squadron.
Shoo Shoo (Shoo) Baby The many lives of a B-17. Has it one ‘Shoo’ too many?
Aleut Alert The bitter war against the Japanese and the weather in the North Pacific
Post WWII
.Bob Hoover - aerobatic pilot extra-ordinaire.
Derek Piggott - test pilot, gliding guru and legendary film flier.
Empire State Encounter - The B-25 pilot turned right at the wrong bridge.
Early Days at Heathrow - The RAF helps out in the London smogs.
.Bob Hoover - aerobatic pilot extra-ordinaire.
Derek Piggott - test pilot, gliding guru and legendary film flier.
Empire State Encounter - The B-25 pilot turned right at the wrong bridge.
Early Days at Heathrow - The RAF helps out in the London smogs.
The Bungee - a Contraction Contraption - a free and easy, if occasionally perilous glider launcher.
Slingsby - its Arrows of Fortune - Britain’s major glider builder from 1934 to 1968. Went on to build powered aircraft, underwater vehicles and specialised drones.
Under the Bridge Fliers - Not just aeroplanes and not always for the thrill.
Blind Landing - The Skyraider pilot was blinded by flak but landed safely.
Picking up the Pieces - Recovering crashed aircraft from the Zuyder Zee
Chuteless Survivors - Some astonishing tales of those who fell to earth - and lived.
Tom Hayhow - In 1952 he set multiple records in a little Auster.
The 1952 King's Cup - A well run race - and an interesting accompanying display
Chuteless Survivors - Some astonishing tales of those who fell to earth - and lived.
Tom Hayhow - In 1952 he set multiple records in a little Auster.
The 1952 King's Cup - A well run race - and an interesting accompanying display
Lockheed U-2 - It all began as an F-104 fitted with a glider’s wing. . .
Boeing Stratocruiser - (1956) Luxury airliner whose troublesome engines caused accidents, including a ‘perfectly handled’ ditching in the Pacific.
Boeing Stratotanker - (1956) A remarkable recovery in the Greenland night after fuel flooded into the fuselage.
Brunswick LF-1 Zaunkönig Was the ‘safe, easy-to-fly’ mini-Storch really fool-proof?
DC-4 Incident Report - The airline captain really upset his passengers - literally.
Caspian Sea Monster (1956) and all the other strange wing-in-ground-effect designs which followed
Convair Sea Dart (1954) A supersonic seaplane.
Convair's Mighty B-36 (1956) and its ‘short’ landing at Boscombe Down.
Caspian Sea Monster (1956) and all the other strange wing-in-ground-effect designs which followed
Convair Sea Dart (1954) A supersonic seaplane.
Convair's Mighty B-36 (1956) and its ‘short’ landing at Boscombe Down.
The Canard - Its Rise and Fall and Rise
Rutan Branch - Burt's approach to Aircraft Design
The Forgotten Air Race (1969) Too many entrants and too many prizes to remember the winner(s).
The Magnificent Hercules - The ubiquitous Herc has fulfilled many roles, magnificently, and survived one very unusual event.
Rutan Branch - Burt's approach to Aircraft Design
The Forgotten Air Race (1969) Too many entrants and too many prizes to remember the winner(s).
The Magnificent Hercules - The ubiquitous Herc has fulfilled many roles, magnificently, and survived one very unusual event.
Gordon Vette - He cleverly rescued a pilot lost over the Pacific and later fought a years long battle against Air NZ to remove the stigma of ‘pilot error’ after an accident in Antarctica.
50th Anniversary of Humanpowered Flight - A lot of progress has been made since the first pedalled prototype flew.
A Dip into my Photograph Album - A wander round the light aeroplane rallies of the Nineties.
Inflatable Aviation - Not balloons - aeroplanes with inflated wings.
50th Anniversary of Humanpowered Flight - A lot of progress has been made since the first pedalled prototype flew.
A Dip into my Photograph Album - A wander round the light aeroplane rallies of the Nineties.
Inflatable Aviation - Not balloons - aeroplanes with inflated wings.
Low, slow and Don’t Know - Unforecasted bad weather seriously challenges Brian’s navigational skills.
Animals in Aviation - More than Brabazon’s ‘flying pig’ demonstration.
Zeppelin - Zeppelins weren’t all killed off by the fire at Lakehurst NJ. You can get a flight in one.
Brainfade over Brazil- They were precisely on the centre line of the airway but . . .
Animals in Aviation - More than Brabazon’s ‘flying pig’ demonstration.
Zeppelin - Zeppelins weren’t all killed off by the fire at Lakehurst NJ. You can get a flight in one.
Brainfade over Brazil- They were precisely on the centre line of the airway but . . .
Looping ad Nauseam - Pegoud set the trend and multiple loops became commonplace. Parachutists do it best - 100s of times.
Strage del Cermis - Massacre at Cermis - A Prowler cuts down a cable car, killing 22 people
Soaring to the Stratosphere - The exploitation of lee waves is tempting gliders pilots to fly ever higher.
Strage del Cermis - Massacre at Cermis - A Prowler cuts down a cable car, killing 22 people
Soaring to the Stratosphere - The exploitation of lee waves is tempting gliders pilots to fly ever higher.