Military Archives - Page 70 of 180

On This Day in Aviation History

1897 – Percy Sinclair Pilcher is towed about 750 feet in the “Hawk,” the fourth of his hang gliders. 1937 – Valery Chkalov, G.F.Baidukov and A.V.Belyakov land their Tupolev ANT-25 in Vancouver, Wash., coming from Moscow via the north pole. A non-stop distance of 8,811 kilometers (5,475 mi). The flight pioneered the polar air route […]

RAF Typhoons Continue Move From Leuchars

The first of two fast jet squadrons will formally leave RAF Leuchars and arrive at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland. The Courier revealed last week that the first four Eurofighter Typhoon fast jets moved from Leuchars to their new home in Moray last Tuesday. The remainder of 6 Squadron will be formally welcomed at Lossiemouth on Friday. The […]

On This Day in Aviation History

1896 – Birth of William Otway Boger, Canadian World War I flying ace. 1931 – The first cross-English Channel flight in a glider is made by Canadian opera singer Lissant Beardmore. 1937 – First flight of the Airspeed AS.10 Oxford, a twin-engine aircraft used for training British Commonwealth aircrews in navigation, radio-operating, bombing and gunnery […]

France Retires Last Mirage F1s

The French air force has retired its last squadron of Dassault Mirage F1s from operational use, with the type due to make its final appearance during Bastille day celebrations next month. Mont-de-Marsan-based reconnaissance unit 2/33 “Savoie” staged a farewell event on 13 June, with four of its 14 aircraft appearing with retrospective colour schemes or special tail […]

On This Day in Aviation History

1925 – Birth of Benjamin Robert Rich, the second director of Lockheed’s Skunk Works from 1975 to 1991; he would succeed its founder, Kelly Johnson, and becomes regarded as the “father of stealth.” 1928 – A French twin-engine flying boat, piloted by René Cyprien Guilbaud carrying Norwegian polar explorer Roald Amundsen and five others on […]

On This Day in Aviation History

1923 – Birth of Stuart Row Childs, American World War II and military test pilot; he flew the Bell X1-B and the Hiller X-18. 1940 – RMS Lancastria is sunk by Luftwaffe Junkers 88 near Saint-Nazaire, France, while taking part in Operation Ariel — the evacuation of British nationals and troops from France — two […]

Greek F-4s Return to Air Show Duty

Technically the McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II is not a warbird just yet, because it’s still operational within a handful of air arms across the globe. However, it’s such an iconic aircraft that every news item featuring its current flying exploits these days is worthy of mention. The Hellenic Air Force has confirmed its participation at […]

On This Day in Aviation History

1923 – Birth of Ron Flockhart, Scottish racing driver and pilot. 1929 – Evelyn “Bobbi” Trout flies a 90-horsepower Golden Eagle Chief to an altitude of 15,200 feet, breaking the light class aircraft altitude record. 1946 – First flight of the Lavochkin La-9 (shown), a post-World War II Soviet fighter. 1955 – As part of an […]

Backfire Bombers Getting Upgrades

There’s no bomber quite like a Backfire. In many ways, Russia’s Tu-22M3 is a Cold War throwback. An intermediate-range, variable-geometry machine, the Tupolev design really gave NATO planners headaches in the 1970s and ’80s. If the Cold War had turned hot, Tu-22Ms would have attacked high-profile targets including American aircraft carrier battle groups in the […]

2014 Eagle Recalls D-Day, Lost Comrades

With more than 7,500 flight hours logged in more than 130 types of aircraft, retired U.S. Air Force Col. Clarence E. “Bud” Anderson, a 2014 Eagle who visited Maxwell (Ala.) Air Force Base for the Gathering of Eagles June 2-6, has cemented his position as a pioneer in American military during times of war. During […]