Military Archives - Page 100 of 180

RCAF Scrounging for Buffalo Parts

The Canadian military has been going to the literal ends of the earth to keep its aging search-and-rescue airplanes flying, underlining the desperate need for replacement aircraft following decades of delays and political squabbling. Top Defence Department officials were told in a secret briefing last year that the military had been forced to “purchase spare […]

Evergreen Aviation Museum’s Future Cloudy

The world-class air museum developed by Evergreen International Aviation founder Del Smith may be in for some painful losses in the wake of the apparent collapse of Smith’s network of for-profit operation. The McMinnville, Oregon, museum housing Howard Hughes’ mammoth H-4 Hercules (better known as the “Spruce Goose”) is facing financial scrutiny, and the ownership […]

On This Day in Aviation History

1911 – A quarter-million Indians watch a flying display in Calcutta by French pilot Henri Jullerot in his military biplane. 1913 – Birth of Pierre Le Gloan, French World War II flying ace. 1944 – First flight of the McDonnell XP-67 “Bat” or “Moonbat” (shown), an American twin-engine, single-seat interceptor prototype. 1960 – National Airlines […]

Canada Inducts Four to Aviation HOF

Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame (CAHF) will induct four new members at its 41st annual gala dinner and ceremony to be held in Calgary, Alberta, in May. The new members are: Clive J. Beddoe, founder of Westjet Airlines; Lorna De Blicquy, flight instructor and trailblazing advocate for the role of women in aviation; Robert P. […]

Valiant Air Command to Get F-16

Valiant Air Command in Titusville, Fla., has added another military aircraft to its displays. And this one is a lot newer than the vintage aircraft it joins. A General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon has arrived and is being reassembled at the Warbird Museum. “It will be a great attraction for our customers because the only times we’ve […]

On This Day in Aviation History

1896 – Birth of Stephen Potter, U.S. Navy officer and early naval aviator; he would become the first American naval aviator to shoot down a German plane. 1937 – Pan American World Airways Sikorsky S-42 flying boat “Samoan Clipper” inaugurates the first air mail and freight service between the U.S. and New Zealand. 1948 – […]

Interest Grows in Scorpion Jet

Wichita workers on Textron AirLand’s secret multi-mission tactical military jet, the Scorpion, never called the project by its real name until it became public in September. And they rarely used its code name – SCV12-1. “It was too much of a tongue twister,” said Dale Tutt, the Scorpion’s chief engineer. “Most of the time we just […]

Condor Squadron Keeps ‘Em Flying

On the west side of California’s Van Nuys Airport, it’s like World War II never ended. Vintage propeller planes once flown by U.S. Navy, Army Air Forces and Royal Air Force pilots are parked wingtip to wingtip along the taxiway. Nearby buildings are painted in camouflage. The sound of swing music sometimes drifts across the […]

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On This Day in Aviation History

1852 – Birth of David Schwarz, Croatian aviation pioneer; he later created the first flyable rigid airship, which was also the first airship with an external hull made entirely of metal. 1928 – Hubert Wilkins and Carl Eielson takes off from Deception Island with a Lockheed Vega for a 10-hour flight and flies over Graham […]