Opel Flies his Rocket Plane
Published on September 30, 2012 By Thomas Van Hare In the late 1920s, Fritz von Opel, the grandson of Adam Opel and the founder of the famous German car manufacturer
HistoricWings.com :: A Magazine for Aviators, Pilots and Adventurers
A Magazine for Aviators, Adventurers and Pilots
Published on September 30, 2012 By Thomas Van Hare In the late 1920s, Fritz von Opel, the grandson of Adam Opel and the founder of the famous German car manufacturer
Published on September 29, 2012 On this date in aviation history in the year 1990, the prototype F-22, known as the YF-22, made its first flight. Approximately seven months later,
Published on September 28, 2012 Jaromir Wagner was a born stuntman, if an amateur one. Born in Czechoslovakia and having escaped from behind the Iron Curtain to West Germany in
Published on September 27, 2012 “Ever since I was in high school, I had just one determination — to fly. I don’t know why either.” So said Nancy Hopkins, a
Published on September 26, 2012 His gear looks a bit like a table-sized wing with four small jets slung underneath. A small fuel tank provides enough to run the jets
Published on September 25, 2012 The Pitcairn PCA-2 autogyro was developed in 1931 and proved to be a reliable, unique aircraft. The rotor at its top was unpowered and it
Published on September 24, 2012 In the poor visibility, they had missed Komsomolsk-on-Amur. After flying eastward for 26 hours and covering more than 3,600 miles, they had navigated without landmarks
This Week’s Hints to help you along: Well, it looks very familiar at least but this one never flew for the USAF. Is that a two person cockpit or just
Published on September 23, 2012 On September 23, 1913, 99 years ago today, Roland Garros, the famed French aviation pioneer, flew across the Mediterranean Sea in what was the first
Published on September 22, 2012 “Shall I try again?” asked Bill Ritchie over the radio. The two XF-84E Thunderjet fighters had both been fitted with an experimental refueling probe system
Published on September 21, 2012 Nobody knows exactly what date she first flew, though it was likely sometime around September 21, 1908, soon after her arrival in Italy. She was
Published on September 20, 2012 The machine rolled down the ramp, accelerating as the nose-mounted propeller spun furiously. At the bottom of the ramp, much like a ski jump, the
Published on September 19, 2012 As the plane taxied out toward the runway, the air traffic controllers on duty looked at amazement at the monstrous addition bolted to the top
Published on September 18, 2012 On this date in history in 1947 — 65 years ago today! — in accordance with the passage of the National Security Act of 1947,
Published on September 17, 2012 “On the fourth round, everything seemingly working much better and smoother than any former flight, I started on a larger circuit with less abrupt turns.
This Week’s Hints to help you along: Absolutely unique in both form and function. Destroyed by fire in the first weeks of the war. Two 20mm cannons in the wings.
Published on September 16, 2012 On this date in aviation history in 1946, just one year after the end of World War II, Italy would file the paperwork for a
Published on September 15, 2012 “You’ve got to be able to shoot from any position. From left or right turns, out of a roll, on your back, whenever… a series
Published on September 14, 2012 By Thomas Van Hare September 14, 1976, was an unlucky day for the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy. Approximately 100 miles northwest of Scapa
Published on September 13, 2012 Orphaned at age 17, he took over the family’s mid-sized business. Relying on a patented technology for oil drilling bits, his company was hugely successful
Published on September 12, 2012 Today in aviation history, on September 12, 1943, nine gliders were released from their tow lines and began to make slow orbits, descending toward a
Published on September 11, 2012 By Thomas Van Hare A SPECIAL EDITION IN HONOR OF THE MEMORY OF THE VICTIMS OF SEPTEMBER 11 Most know the intimate details of the
Published on September 10, 2012 In a comedy routine alluding to the famous Amos & Andy, late one night an Eastern Air Lines flight crew radioed Miami Center’s route controllers,
This Week’s Hints to help you along: Oui, it is a French design. Yes, that is a Cross of Lorraine tail flash. Form follows function, perhaps? Let’s hope so…. So do
Published on September 9, 2012 By Thomas Van Hare The six planes had shadowed the fleet for some time before they turned and flew overhead in a loose formation. Recognizing
Published on September 8, 2012 “I was going shopping that morning for my mother and suddenly there was a blinding flash and a roaring, rushing sound. I was thrown into
Published on September 7, 2012 “Learning Fast. WRIGHT SOARS WITH PUPILS. Lieuts. Lahm and Humphreys Handle Flyer. Each Takes Three Flights with Instructor. More difficult Maneuvers Will Be Taught.” On
Published on September 6, 2012 By Thomas Van Hare Skimming low over the water north of Hokkaido, Lt. Viktor Belenko had managed to elude the others in his flight that
Published on September 5, 2012 Most early aviators of the Victorian age were explorers, inventors and showmen, yet Henry Coxwell was a scientist, first and foremost. His endeavors involved balloons
Published on September 4, 2012 The Korean War broke out in June 1950. By September, Captain Robert E. Wayne was already a highly experienced combat pilot. On the conflict’s first
Published September 3, 2012 The storm hit at dawn, its winds buffeting the Navy’s airship ZR-1, the USS Shenandoah. Gripped by a massive updraft, the huge aerial vessel was spinning
This Week’s Hints to help you along: In testing already in Afghanistan. Can deliver 1.75 tons of cargo into hot zones without risking personnel. Look — no pilots! Yes, that’s
Published on September 2, 2012 By Thomas Van Hare On paper, the idea seems simple enough — just put wings on tanks so that they become a tank-gliders, then tow
Published on September 1, 2012 By Thomas Van Hare On this date in aviation history, September 1, 1983, a Korean Airlines Boeing 747-230B was shot down over the Sea of