Lindbergh’s Path to Glory and Everlasting Fame
Before he gained a worldwide reputation as "Lucky Lindy," Charles A. Lindbergh developed a solid repertoire of aviation skills.
Why Did This Crazy Kitplane Kill So Many Pilots?
Jim Bede aimed high with his little homebuilt BD-5 bullet, but engine woes and questionable financial moves caused him to overshoot the target.
The Dambusters: A Legendary World War II Air Raid
After 70 years, the bold British raid on Germany’s strategic river dams remains one of history’s most audacious bombing missions—a testament to ingenious engineering and the bravery of RAF aircrews.
This Champion Tailhooker was the Greatest Test Pilot of all Time
In a 2011 letter to the author, legendary Royal Navy pilot Eric Brown revealed how he racked up more aircraft carrier landings than anyone before or since.
What Happened to the Soviet Supersonic Transport?
Dubbed the “Concordski” by Western journalists, the Tupolev Tu-144 never achieved the success of its Anglo-French counterpart.
Why Britain’s World War II Turret Fighters Failed
Arming a fighter plane with nothing more than a four-gun turret proved unique—but not brilliantly successful.
Building a Boulton Paul Defiant Mk. I
The Boulton Paul Defiant was a curious sort of fighter. The British airplane was designed around a single motorized turret with a mean-looking set of four .303-inch Browning machine guns.
Danger and Death in the Air: The King of Hollywood Stunt Pilots
Stunt pilot and air racer Paul Mantz flew in more than 250 movies and once owned the world’s seventh largest air force.
Why Did the French Air Force Fail in 1940?
Shortages of aircraft and pilots are often cited, but a lack of leadership and misunderstanding of how best to employ air power were the root causes.
Dragon Lady Down: Crazy Night Landing in a U-2 Spyplane
Republic of China Air Force Major “Mike” Hua pulled off a nighttime dead-stick landing in an early U-2
60-Year-Old U-2 Spyplane Still Seeks Out the Enemy
Sixty years after its introduction, Lockheed’s U-2 spyplane continues to serve as America’s eyes in the sky over distant battlefields.
How the B-25 Became the Ultimate Strafer of World War II
Armed to the teeth with machine guns and a 75mm cannon, B-25s played a key role in World War II as low-level bombers and strafers.
Building A B-25B “Doolittle Raider”
The North American B-25 Mitchell served in nearly every theater of operations during World War II. While the ionic medium bomber was continuously modified and redesigned for a wide variety of roles, some of the most famous B-25s were among the earliest produced.
Giving the Machine Gun Wings
On April 1, 1915, Roland Garros took off in a Morane-Saulnier L from an airfield in northern France, planning to play an April Fool’s Day trick on the Germans.
How the German Air Force Rebuilt After World War II
In the aftermath of WWII, Germany turned to former Luftwaffe officers to rebuild its air force under NATO and help counter the Soviet threat.
