Military Archives - Page 143 of 180

On This Day in Aviation History

1896 – Birth of Henry William Allingham, British World War I pilot and engineer; he would become the last surviving member of the Royal Naval Air Service and last surviving founding member of the Royal Air Force. 1910 – Robert Martinet wins the first cross-country air race, between Angers and Saumur, France in a Farman; he takes 31 mins., […]

Iowa Guard Pilots Begin Taking Last Flights on F-16s

As the Iowa Air National Guard bids farewell to its Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft in Des Moines, it’s also the end of an era for Lt. Col. Travis Acheson and his father, Keith Acheson. The Achesons have both served as fighter pilots with the 132nd Fighter Wing. Dad retired in the early 1990s, […]

From Concept to Combat: Test Pilots Share Evolution of Flying Wing

Sixty-five years ago yesterday, the flight test community suffered a tremendous loss June 5, 1948, when the Northrop YB-49 broke apart mid-air in the skies over the Mojave Desert. The jet-powered flying wing, crashed just five miles north of the base. All five crew members lost their lives that day, including Californian, Capt. Glen Edwards […]

On This Day in Aviation History

1891 – Birth of Albert Dossenbach, German World War I fighter ace. 1917 – England is attacked by a force of 22 Gotha bombers of the Imperial German Air Service at Sheerness in Kent. 1944 – More than 1,000 British bombers drop 5,000 tons of bombs on German gun batteries on the Normandy coast in preparation for D-Day. 1948 – The second Northrop […]

Inside Microsoft Mogul Paul Allen’s WWII Airplane Collection

Paul Allen is staring up at the barrel of an enormous gun – more like a cannon and more than twice his height. In the newly opened second hangar of his Flying Heritage Collection, the billionaire Microsoft cofounder points at an 88mm Flak 37, Nazi Germany’s most feared piece of artillery during World War II. Allen owns […]

On This Day in Aviation History

1897 – Birth of Gilbert Jean Uteau, French World War I flying ace. 1935 – Brothers Fred and Algene Key fly twenty-seven days without landing, setting a world record for sustained flight in a Curtis Robin J-1 named “Ole Miss.” 1942 – The Battle of Midway, a face-off between four Japanese aircraft carriers and three U.S. carriers, begins with a predawn […]

Avro Vulcan to Headline Scottish Air Show

The 2013 Leuchars Airshow in northeast Scotland will offer the general public the chance to see the mighty Avro Vulcan V bomber in Scottish skies one more time when it joins the flying display on Sept. 7. Tickets for the show, which are already available online, went on sale at selected VisitScotland outlets at the weekend. […]

On This Day in Aviation History

1886 – Birth of Francis Thomas Evans, Sr., one of the earliest U.S. Marine Corps aviators, the first person to perform a loop in seaplane and a pioneer of stall and spin recovery techniques. 1936 – The British Air Ministry awarded a contract to Hawker for 600 Hurricane Mk. 1 fighters, the first of a new breed of […]

B-25 Rides Available in New Mexico

We’ve all seen Hollywood movies about World War II where American bomber pilots suit up for their dangerous bombing missions over Europe and in the Pacific, returning in shot-up planes and landing on a wing and a prayer. Others have heard stories first-hand from the family members who were bomber pilots and bombardiers and lived […]

Plans Taking Flight for Kansas Aviation Museum

Men known for their prowess in flight, coupled with rich military heritage, form “boulders” for the Wings Over Salina Aviation Experience that is gathering nuggets for a multimillion-dollar project in Kansas. The idea snared Randy Hassler’s fancy years ago. “It’s been on my bucket list since I’ve been on the (Salina Airport Authority) board,” said […]