US Air Force Lockheed Constellations: Over three decades of service
In the April 2014 issue of Aviation News, Bob Archer told the story of Lockheed Constellations in US Air Force service.
Relatives of Great War hero visit his former base
Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome has welcomed descendants of its first commander, Capt (later Wg Cdr) Claude Ridley MC DSO (1876-1942) to his former station
Ultimate British Airliner Collection Quiz!
Earlier this week Airliner World was invited to the British Airliner Collection at Duxford for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the collection! So what better topic to get the grey matter working this week than a deep dive into the fascinating history of some of these iconic aircraft on display.
Historic Aviation Quiz: Charles Lindbergh
With November 3, 2023 marking the 97th anniversary of famed American aviator Charles Lindbergh using a parachute for the fourth and final time to escape from a stricken aeroplane, we dedicate this week’s quiz to the pioneer known the world over as ‘The Lone Eagle’…
Hell on high ground - what happened to RB-29A 44-61999 'Over Exposed'?
Jamie Ewan trekked across Bleaklow Moor in Derbyshire’s High Peaks to visit the final resting place of a Boeing RB-29A Superfortress. But what happened on a fateful day in 1948?
Newly completed P-51 for UK owner
Fresh rebuild from Midwest Aero Restorations set to head for Britain
Turboprop Tracker flies again in France
Ex-Sécurité Civile Turbo Firecat to be operated at airshows by Alençon-based association
Premiere for ‘Silver Spitfire – The Longest Flight’
The feature length documentary about the famous Silver Spitfire’s global journey will debut on Sunday November 12 at 9pm on Sky History
Air and navy personnel honoured at Maltese memorial
A memorial unveiled at Lyster Barracks at the former airfield in Ħal Far has been dedicated to all RAF, Fleet Air Arm and US Navy personnel who served there
Latest Issues from our leading aviation publications
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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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