flight journal Archives - Flight Journal

Thunderbolt II Tuesday

The A-10 isn’t an airplane. It’s a terrifyingly effective ball peen hammer designed from the onset to do one job and one job only: support the guys on the ground. At the beginning that meant it was to blunt the tank attacks cold war planners knew the Russians would send rolling across Europe in waves. […]

Happy Thanksgiving to You and Yours

This Thanksgiving weekend we wish all of our dear readers the blessings of family and friends, good food and health, and fair skies and smooth landings. We are incredibly grateful for you and our shared enthusiasm for aviation.

January 26 — On this Day in Aviation History

Here are some more interesting archive listings from the aviation historical calendar. 1990 – The first Boeing 747 (military designation: VC-25) to be used as Air Force One is delivered to the United States Air Force. 1988 – French Defense Ministry approves full-scale development of the Dassault Rafale. 1962 – NASA launches the […]

Flying the Coolest Bizjet — Gulfstream G650

What’s the coolest airplane in the world, at least that a civilian could buy? There are some impressive contenders for that unofficial title, including a couple I’ve had the chance to fly in the past year, such as the Gulfstream G650 and the Cessna Citation X+. The Embraer Legacy 500, a long-awaited midsize marvel from […]

Loves the Oil Hawks!

When I saw the article on Al Williams, I remembered some photos and information given to me by the wife of Al’s son, Jack, back in the 80’s. I had met Jack when he and his family were living in Charlotte, NC, and he shared with me some of the fascinating photos and stories of […]

January 9. On this Day in Aviation History

Today in 1969: NASA announced the astronauts selected for the first lunar landing: (left to right below) Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin Jr., Neil A. Armstrong, and Michael Collins. This photo of the crew was taken the following day. Michael Collins piloted the command module Columbia alone in lunar orbit while they were on the Moon’s […]

New Film Chronicles Secret WWII Training

Heroes on Deck, a one-hour documentary featuring secret World War II pilot training missions on Lake Michigan, will have its world premiere today in Kalamazoo, Mich. The film, written, executive produced, and directed by Emmy Award-winning and Kalamazoo College alumnus John Davies, “Heroes on Deck” tells the story of a little known chapter of United States […]