Aviation History magazine is an authoritative, in-depth history of world aviation from its origins to the Space Age. Aviation History magazine covers the rich history of aviation, from Glenn Curtiss and the Wrights, to Hellcats, Mustangs, and even a Viper or two.
Happy Thanksgiving!
“After receiving permission from the farm owner, these men, attached to an airbase at Norfolk, England, invade a turkey pen to choose their annual turkey day repast. The turkeys were given to the men for their Thanksgiving dinners," Nov. 6, 1943.
Mustang Monday continues. Just what was it that made the P-51 such a world be**er (besides that Merlin engine)?
The interesting question today is not whether the Mustang was fast, but why
W***y Messerschmitt’s Me-262 was not quite the game changer it might have been if produced earlier and in greater numbers, but after its 1944 debut, air combat would never be the same.
Here's some more background about the events behind the new movie Devotion.
On December 4, 1950, Jesse Brown crashed-landed in Korea after his Corsair was disabled by ground fire. Tom Hudner, his wingman, intentionally crash-landed his own aircraft in an unsuccessful attempt to rescue Brown, who ultimately died of his injuries. Hudner was later awarded the Medal of Honor fo...
Polish airmen fought valiantly against marauding Messerschmitts during the Battle of Britain, only to see their contributions largely ignored at war's end as Poland was absorbed into the Communist bloc.
World War II in the Pacific was a fight to seize and defend airfields. The Japanese made gaining and maintaining control of the air as much a requirement.
World War II in the Pacific was a fight to seize and defend airfields. The Japanese made gaining and maintaining control of the air as much a requirement
The movie Devotion, which opens today, tells the story of Jesse Brown, the first African American Naval aviator. Here's some background about Brown.
The son of a sharecropper, Mississippi-born Jesse Leroy Brown would do whatever it took to become a pilot and break the navy's color barrier.
During the Eighth Air Force's last mission over Europe, members of the 324th Bomb Squadron became embroiled in a dispute with their commanding officer.
Operation A-Go was meant to trap the U.S. Fifth Fleet in the Marianas. What followed was a disaster for Japan — and a turkey shoot for the Americans.
Hiroyoshi Nishizawa was gaunt and sickly looking, but in the cockpit of his Zero fighter he became 'the Devil.'
From TV Guide, March 6, 1966. Anyone remember watching this program?
A Mitsubishi Zero shot down at Pearl Harbor revealed surprisingly few facts about the mysterious fighter, but did yield a map that provided tantalizing clues about the location of the Japanese fleet.
The first chance to inspect the iconic Mitsubishi Zero revealed surprisingly few hard facts.
Air Marshal Ivan Kozhedub was the highest-scoring fighter pilot flying against the Germans during the early 1940s. He tells what it was like to succeed in a learn-as-you-fight conflict.
Under General Henry H. 'Hap' Arnold, America's air arm became the largest and most potent air force in history.
Hiroyoshi Nishizawa was gaunt and sickly looking, but in the cockpit of his Zero fighter he became 'the Devil.'
A Mitsubishi Zero shot down at Pearl Harbor revealed surprisingly few facts about the mysterious fighter, but did yield a map that provided tantalizing clues about the location of the Japanese fleet.
The first chance to inspect the iconic Mitsubishi Zero revealed surprisingly few hard facts.
Start the weekend project early and make it a great "Mustang Monday"
Here's how to make this classic P-51 kit look great
As Brig. Gen. William Mitchell faced court-martial charges in 1925, the Kansas City Star described him as 'a zealot, a fanatic, a one-idea man...' but added that someday his dream might come true.
It's a Mustang Monday!
Contrary to popular belief, the introduction of the Merlin-powered P-51B to combat over Europe was not without its problems.
Their assignment in the Pacific took Victor Tatelman and the other pilots and crew members of the 499th Squadron to new low levels in search of the enemy.
Led by pioneering balloonist Thaddeus Lowe, daredevil aeronauts on both sides of the war took to the skies in flimsy balloons to eyeball their opponents' every move. Soldiers on the ground often did not take kindly to the unwanted attention.
One of Britain's most decorated and highest-scoring fighter pilots was a former mule skinner from east Texas.
There are many stories from the pivotal Battle of Midway, Ensign George Gay's is one of them.
Midway was an improbable victory, but nothing was more improbable than what happened that day to Ensign George H. Gay.
A daring group of former barnstormers introduced American film fans to flying thrills and chills in the 1920s.
'Shorty' Wheless and 'Buzz' Wagner typified the kind of air warriors the American public was eager to recognize early on during World War II.
In October 1943, the U.S. Eighth Air Force's losses became critical, forcing a reappraisal of the American daylight bombing strategy.
There are many stories from the pivotal Battle of Midway, Ensign George Gay's is one of them.
Midway was an improbable victory, but nothing was more improbable than what happened that day to Ensign George H. Gay.
Douglas Corrigan had long dreamed of being the first man to fly nonstop from New York to Dublin. When officials denied him permission for a transoceanic attempt, he was determined not to let red tape get in his way.
Germany's second-highest-scoring ace of World War I, the colorful and boisterous Ernst Udet, had one of the most remarkable flying careers of the first half of the 20th century.
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.
As Lieutenant Zenji Abe left the deck of the Japanese aircraft carrier Akagi and approached Pearl Harbor in his Aichi dive bomber, he recalled that everything was proceeding "just like an exercise."
As Lieutenant Zenji Abe left the deck of the Japanese aircraft carrier Akagi and approached Pearl Harbor in his Aichi dive bomber, he recalled that everything was proceeding 'just like an exercise.'
In May 1941, British forces were fighting to keep Iraq in Allied hands — a struggle that belatedly involved German and Italian aircraft as well.
In May 1941, British forces were fighting to keep Iraq in Allied hands -- a struggle that belatedly involved German and Italian aircraft as well.
Brig. Gen. John J. Pershing's 1916 Mexican expedition was a learning experience for the U.S. Army's first air arm—mainly in regard to its own deficiencies.
He was called America’s Ace of Aces during World War I, the highest scorer of American aerial victories over the Germans. He could just as easily have been labeled the ‘luckiest man alive,’ however, since he survived — by his own count — 135 brushes with death during his exciting lifetime.
When America's WWI Ace of Aces Edward Rickenbacker became president of Eastern Air Lines, he said: 'I will always keep in mind that I am in the greatest business in the world ... and I can serve humanity more completely in my line of endeavor than in any other.'
Fast, agile and futuristic, the RAF’s Avro Vulcan nuclear bomber left an indelible impression on the crewmen who flew it during the Cold War.
Aerial circus star Clyde Pangborn and pl***oy Hugh Herndon, Jr., strutted onto aviation's world stage in 1931 when they took off from New York with high hopes of beating the around-the-world speed record set by one-eyed Wiley Post.
Soon after the introduction of the Lockheed C-130, four U.S. Air Force pilots came up with a great way to demonstrate just how maneuverable and powerful the new transport was.
Royce Williams shot down four Soviet MiG-15s in one day during the Korean War—but was told to keep silent about it.
It’s easy enough to design bad airplanes, but it takes real gumption to put it into production despite all signs to the contrary.
A re-examination of the probable fate of five TBM Avengers that disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle during a routine training mission.
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Vienna, VA
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Guy Aceto is back with his “Modeling Minute”! This week he takes on the P-47D.
Aviation History's Guy Aceto shares a minute on model airplanes. What's he building today? Check it out!
A look at the Grumman Goose at the American Heritage Museum
Aviation History magazine editor, Tom Huntington, found something unique in a used bookstore recently…
At the American Heritage Museum: 3 airplanes from 2 world wars
Aircraft at the American Heritage Museum
Biplanes galore at Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome
Fokker D.VIII replica: Enjoy the sound of a rotary engine.
Let's speed through NASM's new Nation of Speed gallery.
A replica 1912 Etrich Taube at Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome
One of the National Air and Space Museum's new galleries (opening October 14) is called One World Connected. So that's the story about the Beechcraft Bonanza hanging above the entrance? Aviation History magazine editor Tom Huntington talked to someone who knows the story.
Aviation History editor Tom Huntington was lucky enough to get a sneak preview of the galleries the National Air and Space Museum will open later this week (October 14). Here he visits the Early Flight gallery and talks to the museum's Christopher Moore about the world's first military aircraft.
During a recent sneak peek at the new galleries at the National Air and Space Museum, editor Tom Huntington talked to the museum's Peter Jacob about one of the most important airplanes in history. Maybe the most important airplane.
While visiting the National Air and Space Museum yesterday, I came across this iconic aircraft.
America by Air at the National Air and Space Museum
This is half of all the world's flyable B-29s!
Watch an F-35 fly in formation with a P-51 Mustang and an A-1 Skyraider.
Here's another "fast motion" look at some airplanes at the EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh. These are Howard airplanes, representatives of aviation's "Golden Age."
At the EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh. Let's learn a little bit about the Westland Lysander
What's more difficult to fly, a B-17 or a twin-engine Beech C45 (the military version of the Beech 18)? You might be surprised.
What do the judges at Oshkosh look for in vintage aircraft? Doug Smith tells us as he prepares to examine a Beech Staggering.
Members of the Douglas family showed up for the airshow at Oshkosh yesterday.
Doc flies by. At the EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh.
Doc takes off.
Wow! (Turn up the volume!)
The EAA Museum in Oshkosh has a Spirit of St.Louis in display. No, not THE Spirit, which the Smithsonian has. But this replica is pretty cool in its own right.
How about a walk-around of the B-29 Doc?
A fast-motion look at Boeing Plaza at the Oshkosh show. Some big stuff here!
When is a Mustang not a Mustang? When it's a Cavalier.
From Oshkosh. The story of the C-47 Yukon Sourdough.
