NASA’s experimental jet in line for refurbishment
A Douglas F5D-1 Skylancer once used by NASA is to be restored to static display condition
The Few memorial shortlisted for award
The clifftop memorial that honours the men who fought the Battle of Britain has been shortlisted for a major tourism award
Unique Hawker Demon for sale
The world’s only airworthy Hawker Demon – K8203 (G-BTVE) – has been listed for sale by Platinum Fighters
Lancaster ‘Just Jane’ releases Remembrance poppies
The potentially airworthy Avro Lancaster undertook the tribute at its East Kirkby, Lincolnshire home last month
HARS Super Constellation: What it’s like to fly and display
In this second part of the interview with Bob De La Hunty, President and Chief Pilot of Australia’s HARS Aviation Museum, he tells Key Aero’s Dino Carrara about the challenges of keeping its Super Constellation in the air
How the world’s only airworthy Lockheed Super Constellation was brought back to life
President and Chief Pilot of HARS Aviation Museum, Bob De La Hunty, spoke to Key Aero’s Dino Carrara about the huge effort to obtain its Super Constellation and get it flying again
Taranto - A turning point for naval aviation
Until 1940, the debate continued to rage over the true power of the carrier aircraft. That November, 21 dated biplanes proved the point. This article is taken from a new special magazine from Key Publishing called 'Carrier Aircraft of the Propeller Era'
Watch the first trailer for war epic ‘Masters Of The Air’
Apple TV+ has unveiled the first teaser for its highly anticipated, nine-episode series
Historic Aviation Quiz: The Lockheed Constellation
With Key.Aero celebrating Lockheed's world changing Constellation, we dedicate this week’s quiz to what is perhaps one of – if not the – most elegant propliners to ever grace the skies…
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The Latest Historic Aviation News All in One Place
This is your one stop shop for everything you could possibly want to know about historic aviation. Historic aircraft flights, displays and renovations can all be found among the categories and articles linked to from this page.
Readers can find categories for Warbirds, restoration projects by individuals and organisations such as museums, and in-depth resources on iconic aircraft from all the corners of the globe. Whether it is the Hughes H-4 Hercules Spruce Goose, Boeing C-137 Stratoliner, Aerospatiale / British Aircraft Corporation Concorde, Tupolev Tu-144, Hawker Harrier jump-jet or any other historic commercial and military aircraft, the information is here at your fingertips.
Warbird News & Projects
Warbird enthusiasts spend their time bringing iconic military aircraft back to life and in some cases even back to a state of airworthiness. The name Warbird originally referred only to World War 2 era aircraft but has since been widened to include all historical military aircraft.
Popular Warbird types include the North American P-51 Mustang, Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane and the Messerschmitt Bf109. While one or two-seat fighters are affordable for the individual enthusiast to restore, aviation museums and groups of people take on much larger aircraft. Examples of these, include, the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and the Avro Lancaster. The most famous of recent years must be the Avro Vulcan supersonic bomber, which is now on a static display in the UK but flew for several years at airshows.
Spitfire Fighter Aircraft
The Supermarine Spitfire is arguably the most iconic World War II era European aircraft. Credited with a significant role in the Battle of Britain victory against the Luftwaffe’s assault on Great Britain in the summer of 1940, the propeller driven fighter was designed by Reginald J Mitchell at Supermarine Aviation. Mitchell designed the Spitfire with the Rolls-Royce Merlin and Griffon engines in mind because he saw their potential when combined with the aircraft’s unique aerodynamics.
The Spitfire first flew on 5th March 1936 from Eastleigh Aerodrome. However, due to production issues and limitations in Supermarine’s manufacturing process, the first production Spitfire did not take to the skies for a further 2 years. The Spitfire was born four months after the maiden flight of its partner aircraft, the Hawker Hurricane. Together they would deny Nazi Germany air superiority over England and the English channel.
Aircraft Restorations
The restoration of historical aircraft is a challenge full of difficult obstacles with missing engines, control system parts, and the need for significant fuselage, wing or tail repair. The long, slow process of restoring an aircraft to a flight worthy condition or simply for static display is taken up by many individuals, but also museums and groups of enthusiasts.
The restorations undertaken can be as small as a one-seat civilian bi-plane or the always popular Warbirds, or as large as a Lockheed C-121C Constellation. Museums that tackle large scale restorations include the Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum in Missouri and the Museum of Flight in Everett, Washington. These museums have restored early propeller driven passenger aircraft and the early airliners built in the USA and Europe, like the de Havilland Comet.
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