Flight Journal - Aviation History | History of Flight | Aviation History Articles, Warbirds, Bombers, Trainers, Pilots

“Into Flight Once More”

Sound Off Films proudly announces the digital streaming availability of the remarkable new documentary, INTO FLIGHT ONCE MORE. A unique and moving tribute to one of the world’s most historic events, the picturesque and patriotic new documentary follows the D-Day Squadron, made up of 15 dedicated groups of pilots, mechanics, history buffs and veterans from not only […]

Su-57 Fighter Profile – between an F-18 and an F-22?

Many advanced aviation designs get mired down temporarily or for the longer term owing to unanticipated complications of the myriad engineering systems involved. Russia’s Su-57 is in such a case, although we can’t count out seeing it eventually go into production. As reported on Thedrive.com, “India’s decision to finally walk away from the joint program […]

Kittyhawk Jungle Rescue

Confined in a microworld of levers, switches, and instruments, Royal Australian Air Force Flight Sergeant James Denman Harvey slid his Curtiss P-40’s eight-piece canopy backwards and looked down. Hammered by tropical heat and skin slippery in perspiration, he studied the surface of a newly captured airstrip called “Tadji.” Harvey and fellow No. 78 Squadron pilots […]

Top Gun Maverick: The iconic ’80s aviation action classic returns to thrill a new generation

Can you believe it’s been 34 years since we first saw Tom Cruise catapult off a carrier deck and up into the danger zone as Lieutenant Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in Top Gun? We previewed the first Top Gun movie in our August 1986 issue (and correctly predicted that the Tomcat–and Tom Cruise–would become American heroes). […]

The Secrets of Truck Lagoon – Project Recover locates three missing World War II aircraft

Ninety minutes before daybreak on February 17, 1944, Operation Hailstone was launched from three U.S. aircraft carrier groups in the South Pacific. Hundreds of American warplanes ravaged the Japanese-held island airfields and harbors of Truk Lagoon, one of the most formidable Japanese naval air bases in the Pacific. The low-flying torpedo bombers and dive bombers […]

Restoring a Classic: A Canadian Staggerwing Gets a New Life

The classic Beechcraft D17S Staggerwing first appeared in 1937 and was a follow-on design for Walter Beech of the original fixed gear Model 17 of the early 1930s. It was considered to be one of the finest and fastest aircraft of the time. It was expensive, with prices quoted between $14,000 and $17,000 U.S. depending […]

From Vietnam to the Commemorative Air Force

From the jungles of Vietnam to the desert of Arizona, Dave Baker’s remarkable flying career spanned over 50 years and encompassed combat, instruction, commercial, test pilot and warbird flying. Having met nearly 10 years ago when he took me for my first tail wheel flight, I am grateful that he was prepared to recount his […]

70 Years of Naval Aviation in 3D

Experience these full-color images in stunning 3D with the included 3D viewer! “Naval Aircraft in the Third Dimension” will make you feel like you’re in the cockpits, on flight lines, and aboard aircraft carriers. Featured subjects include fixed and rotary wing aircraft, unmanned vehicles, and aircraft carriers. All proceeds benefit the Patuxent River Naval Air […]

Second Chances: Breathing New Life into a California Bearcat

The Southern California Wing of the Commemorative Air Force in Camarillo, CA has recently begun a full overhaul of one of its most prized aircraft, the Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat. Though Bearcats are somewhat common warbirds in the world of aircraft restoration, CAF SoCal’s airframe, BuNo 122674, has a truly unique history and has flown in […]

Nieuport 28 Takes Flight!

The American Heritage Museum in Stow, Massachusetts is honored to announce that America’s oldest, original, and airworthy combat aircraft has returned to the sky. On Saturday, April 2nd, 2022, the museum’s 1918 Nieuport 28 took to sky in southern Sweden with World War I aircraft restoration expert, Mikael Carlson, at the controls. There are 5 […]