The Aviation Show

14/12/2025

in 1989, the Grumman X-29 Advanced Technology Demonstrator Aircraft made its maiden flight at Edwards Air Force Base. The X-29 featured forward-swept wings and canard control surfaces. Two X-29s were built and flew until 1992. This aircraft NASA 849 is on display at the NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California.



Image: NASA EC91-491-07

13/12/2025

New episode is available now for our fab Patreon supporters.

13/12/2025

Our fab Patreon supporters can check out our chat with Apollo 13 co-author Jeffrey Kluger right now! Jeffrey's new book, Gemini: Stepping Stone to the Moon, is a great narrative look at the best NASA program, and we get to reminisce about Jim Lovell.

Join via the link in the comment below!

12/12/2025

09/12/2025

The mission patch for the planned 8-day Gemini V flight in August 1965 was designed by Gordo Cooper and Pete Conrad. They had included the slogan "8-Days or Bust" on the side of the wagon. After the patches were produced and shown to NASA Administrator James Webb, Webb ordered the words covered over. If you look closely, you can see the extra piece of cloth covering the original slogan included by Gordo and Pete.

Image: NASA History S66-59530

09/12/2025

04/12/2025

60 years ago today, Frank Borman and Jim Lovell launched on the Gemini VII mission to show that humans could survive in weightlessness for 14 days. Their spacecraft was also Gemini VI-A's target vehicle for the world's first space rendezvous. These two achievements were critical steps on the road to the Apollo Moon landing. The Gemini VII spacecraft is on display in the "Destination Moon" exhibition at the Museum in DC.

04/12/2025

We call this a two thirds of a century photo.

04/12/2025

60 years ago today Jim Lovell and Frank Borman launched on their first spaceflight, Gemini 7.

During their mission, Lovell and Borman would secure two early records in the Space Race: the first rendezvous between two crewed spacecraft, and the first two-week mission in human spaceflight.

NASA would not exceed this duration until their first space station, Skylab, launched eight years later.

Lovell and Borman would fly together for a second time over Christmas in 1968: this time to the Moon.

04/12/2025

The Apollo 1 film is on Channel 4 this Sunday evening

04/12/2025

in 1991, Pan American Airways ceased operations. The final Pan Am flight, Flight 436 from Barbados to Miami, was flown by Clipper Goodwill, a Boeing 727-200 N368PA. Pan Am operated for 64 years, and its 'Blue Meatball' remains one of the greatest corporate logos in history.

Pan Am's stewardesses were among the finest flight attendants to ever grace the skies. Julia Cooke joined me in the early days of the podcast to discuss the women who answered the call: "Stewardesses Wanted. Must Want The World". Check out our conversation via the link in the comment below.

03/12/2025