Southern Knights
A century ago, World War One changed the course of history. Total, global, industrial and mechanical, it was a new kind of conflict that redrew maps, destroyed families – from royal to rural, helped emancipate women, and hand-propped the infant aviation industry. For the first time in history, young men would wheel simple but surprisingly advanced machines high above the mud-bound stalemate of artillery and trench sieges. And … Continue reading Southern Knights
“…where I belonged…
Dominic Salvatore Gentile (1920 – 1951) “…But it was not until I was 17 that I finally got into an airplane. At that time I felt I had come to the place where I belonged in the world. The air to me was what being on the ground was to other people. When I felt nervous it pulled me together. Things could get … Continue reading “…where I belonged…
North, then hard Left
If you’re tired of turning up to airshows and aviation museums in that torn old Cessna T-shirt, here’s something a long way left of centre for you… completely unauthorised Air Koryo apparel. Air Koryo is the state airline of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (that’s North Korea to you and me), and has operated a small fleet of Tupolev Tu-154 tri-jets since 1975 (although they’re now banned from … Continue reading North, then hard Left
Re: Direction
If you’ve felt like airscape’s content has been a bit ‘samey’ lately, well, congratulations – you’re way ahead of me! Personally, I don’t think there’s been a shortage of interesting content, per se, but that’s probably helped lull me into some comfortable habits too. . . It’s high time I kicked myself where nobody should physically be able to kick themselves. New template, more stuff … Continue reading Re: Direction
I’M SAFE
Just recently, Editor Jeb Burnside published an article in the August 2016 issue Aviation Safety magazine that set me thinking. Here’s how it started: If you know a better way to teach and explain critical analysis of the dangers a proposed flight might pose, we’re all ears. Well, okay, seeing as you asked… But first, a little of the backstory. PAVE and I’M SAFE The article … Continue reading I’M SAFE
Unseen power
“In this world, the unseen has power” – Apache proverb Apache over Libya by Will Laidlaw Simply astonishing! There are a lot of very good aviation books out there – but not many as good as this. To tell the truth, I’ve been putting off writing my review of it, purely out of fear that I wouldn’t do it justice. (And I still might not.) … Continue reading Unseen power
Win this book!
1940: The Battles To Stop Hitler by Mitch Peeke (Pen & Sword e-book) I’ve done a few reviews for Pen & Sword lately (with more in the pipeline) and, by way of thanks, they’ve provided me with a copy of 1940: The Battles To Stop Hitler to give away. UPDATE: This contest is now closed and the winner has been contacted. We’ll be giving away more books … Continue reading Win this book!
Leader of the revolution
Of all the great aviation stories out there, my favourites are the ones that take me completely by surprise. And so it was with this. I assume you’ve seen the footage of legendary German test pilot Hanna Reitsch flying the twin-rotor Focke-Wulf Fw.61 inside Berlin’s Deutschlandhalle sports stadium during February 1938. If not, here it is: It begs the question – where were “our” helicopters? … Continue reading Leader of the revolution
Write flyers
airscape has a long-standing tension with poetry. I like it, but I know a lot of other people like it less. And so I restrain myself. Usually. The following clip is simply too good to miss though. And while the star of the show is undoubtedly the English Electric Lightning, Hawker Hunters and Slingsby Swallow sailplanes also feature. There’s also a wonderful PoV sequence of … Continue reading Write flyers
Behind the walls
I thought I’d add a little background info for the story of the Colditz Glider, as covered in my Flight From Colditz book review. I actually wrote this summary for the review, but it just didn’t fit. So here it is. . . Oflag IV-C The basic story of Colditz is fairly well known: In the second half of 1940, the Germans decided it would … Continue reading Behind the walls
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