Aircraft
Hawker Tornado
Orthographic projection of the second prototype Tornado, with the distinctive “beard” radiator, modified tail and fitted for four cannons. Inset profile of the first prototype in the original configuration looking very much like an enlarged Hurricane. Hawker’s proposals for a Hurricane replacement comprised two alternative projects, one with a Napier Sabre engine, known initially as the Type N, and the…
Most Recent
Nanchang Q 5
The Q 5 is built and marketed as a relatively simple and low-cost alternative to high-priced Western strike aircraft. Although based on outdated technology, it is capable and available in large numbers. The history of the Nanchang Q 5 dates back to 1958, when the People’s Republic of China began…
WUNDERWAFFEN
The Ju 287 project started in June 1943. The aircraft was to have had swept-back wings and four turbojets, one beneath each wing and one on either side of the forward fuselage. However, the low speed stability problems of swept wings had at that time not been solved, so in…
The magnificent SPADÂ XIII
The magnificent SPAD XIII was the best French fighter of World War I and a radical departure from earlier design philosophies. Although not as nimble as the lighter Nieuports, the sacrifice in maneuverability was offset by speed and ruggedness. In 1916 the inability of the Societe Pour les Appareils Deperdussin…
Siemens-Schuckert R.VI
Siemens-Schuckert R.VI Bomber – Bialystok March 1917 Siemens-Schuckert Werke built the only other series of operational R-planes apart from Staaken. There were seven of them: the first, the R I, flew at the same time as the VGO.I in 1915 and was just as brave a pioneering effort. They were…
Lincoln Legacy
RAAF No.1 Squadron crew and their Lincoln. Crews had no difficulty in converting to the Lincoln because it was an aircraft that had no vices and was a pleasure to handle, but it was understandable that pilots who had extensive experience of the Lancaster were unwilling to concede it pride…
Wallis and Whittle
Grand Slam combat operations Barnes Wallis and Frank Whittle, probably the best-known British inventors of the twentieth century, worked in the air-industrial complex. Both were supported very strongly by it because they came up with new ideas which were felt to be worth trying; their revolutionary inventions were supported because…