Aeroplane Archive
The Key.Aero team have delved for treasure in the archive of Aeroplane Magazine dating back to 1911. Aviation history brought to life by the editors of the period.
Nordair L-188 Electras – Hunting icebergs
A good view of the initial ice patrol modifications made by Nordair to its L-188C Electras: an under-fuselage radome taken from a CP-107 Argus, an astrodome that used to be a Sabre canopy, and bulging observation windows. Observers would take hour-long turns in the upper ‘bubble’.
The competition that tried to make flying safer
In the inter-war aviation industry’s efforts to improve the safety of commercial aeroplanes, a one-off contest in the USA sought to play its part — but it wasn’t without trouble and controversy
How the de Havilland Comet thrust MEA into the Jet Age
In early 1961 Middle East Airlines (MEA) introduced into service its first jet in the Comet 4C. The January 13 issue ‘The Aeroplane and Astronautics’ reported on how the airline had prepared for a new era
First impressions of Comet flying
Before the Comet entered service four of ‘The Aeroplane’s’ staff had flown in the jet and gave their thoughts in the May 2, 1952 edition on what this new form of travel was like compared with propeller-driven airliners
Meeting of the Comets
Only once did the two Comets, DH88 and DH106, fly together — and it was 30 years ago this year
Round the World in a Comet in 1992
Some said it couldn’t be done — that this old aircraft would fail somewhere along the way. However, the Defence Research Agency’s Comet 4 XV814 defied the doubters and, in the summer of 1992, made it round the world. The then head of experimental flying at Farnborough recalled a memorable trip in the May 2016 issue of ‘Aeroplane’
Comet creator – insights from de Havilland’s chief designer
The man who designed the revolutionary Comet jetliner, R E Bishop, wrote this exclusive article for ‘The Aeroplane’ which was published the same day as the aircraft’s first commercial service on May 2, 1952
First ever colour photos of the Comet
‘The Aeroplane’ scored a world exclusive when it published the first colour photos of the Comet in its July 29, 1949 issue. The piece also explored the design of this revolutionary aircraft
BOAC Comet Captain insights
CAPT. M. R. ALDERSON, who was in charge of B.O.A.C.’s Comet unit, spoke to H. A. TAYLOR for the January 11, 1952 issue of ‘The Aeroplane’ and gave an outline of some of the more interesting features in jet transport operation after six months of preliminary route-proving trials
First Westerner to fly in a Russian helicopter
On a visit to the Soviet Union in 1956 ‘The Aeroplane’s’ John Fricker was privileged to be the first Westerner to be invited to fly in a Russian helicopter. His report on the flight appeared in the August 17, 1956 issue