History

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Airbus A300's first flight. The airliner was developed in the 1960s by a consortium of European companies, which included Aerospatiale, Deutsche Airbus, British Aerospace, Casa and Fokker-VFV.

“By tomorrow morning the Soviet Union would likely cease to be a major military power or even a major nation.” – General Curtis LeMay in 1956, explaining what would have happened if Strategic Air Command’s nuclear bombers had been sent to the East.

It is rare for a pilot to become an ‘ace in a day’. It is just as rare to be awarded a Distinguished Service Cross three times or to become an ace in two wars. However, one pilot accomplished all of these feats during his career as a fighter pilot.

In 1922, Clark developed the ‘Clark Y’ aerofoil profile, which was the result of substantial mathematical research to design the ideal cross-sectional shape of a wing. Early aircraft designers found that the ‘Clark Y’ aerofoil worked well for their designs. As a result, the ‘Clark Y’ aerofoil was incorporated into dozens of aircraft designs.

On November 12, a Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress and Bell P-63F Kingcobra collided at the Wings over Dallas airshow. Tragically, all occupants of the two aircraft died in the accident.

In 1852, Giffard built the world's first steerable airship.

Finland’s involvement in the Second World War is a fascinating subject. It stood alone against the massive Soviet Union and was forced to seek help from Germany. Nevertheless, little Finland fought tenaciously throughout its battles. The same can be said about one of its best pilots.

Although the Spanish Civil War has been described as a proving ground or trial run for World War II, it was very much a real war. Intense air combat produced numerous aces, but one pilot from North Africa stood out from the crowd.

Francis Gabreski’s flying career is one of the most encouraging stories in the world of aviation. It is a story that reminds us that success is not about how you start out, but rather, how you finish.

The Bf-109 is without doubt the most famous German-designed aircraft ever used in combat. However, when looking at military history books, this remarkable fighter is usually overshadowed by more popular aircraft, such as the Spitfire and Mustang. Was this German fighter really that formidable?

Enrico Forlanini was a pioneer in helicopter design, hydrofoils and airship development.

Learn more about Clyde Cessna, founder of the Cessna Company.