The Aviation Historian

19/07/2024

Adventure from another era: in our new issue, TAH48, published a few days ago, we present a first-hand account (with modern additions) of the first flight to link the capital cities of Iraq and Iran, in the 1920s. Here’s the opening spread of the feature (click to enlarge).

For lots more info about TAH48, click on the blue “Learn More” button under the heading pic on this page; that will take you to our website, where you can also order the issue, a subscription, browse our full range of back-issues and/or download our free index.

18/07/2024

Sea Harrier vs Mirage — in our new quarterly issue, TAH48, officially published on Monday, we look back at how the formidable combat jets mixed it in the Falklands in 1982. Here’s the opening spread of the feature (click to enlarge).

For lots more info about TAH48, click on the blue “Learn More” button under the heading pic on this page; that will take you to our website, where you can also order the issue, a subscription, browse our full range of back-issues and/or download our free index.

17/07/2024

Really? In our new quarterly issue, TAH48, officially published a couple of days ago, we open a two-part series on how the USAF’s mighty Convair B-58 nuclear bomber was considered for a conventional bombing and pathfinding role in Vietnam. Here’s the opening spread of the feature (click to enlarge).

For lots more info about TAH48, click on the blue “Learn More” button under the heading pic on this page; that will take you to our website, where you can also order the issue, a subscription, browse our full range of back-issues and/or download our free index.

16/07/2024

In our new quarterly issue, TAH48, officially published yesterday, we look at the political background to the Airbus A320, a venture which singlehandedly revived the fortunes of Britain’s civil airliner manufacturing industry. Here’s the opening spread of the feature (click to enlarge).
For lots more info about TAH48, click on the blue “Learn More” button under the heading pic on this page; that will take you to our website, where you can also order the issue, a subscription, browse our full range of back-issues and/or download our free index.

15/07/2024

TAH48 is out today!
The latest issue of is officially published today, although print subscribers in the UK and worldwide have already been receiving their copies. As ever, this new edition of our high-quality — and supremely collectable — compact-format quarterly journal contains a stimulating variety of articles.
Here’s the opening spread of one of them (double-click to enlarge it): our in-depth look at the historical and technical aspects of Avro’s Blue Steel missile.
For further info about TAH48, plus back-issues, click on the blue “Learn More” button under the heading pic on this page, which will take you to our website.

12/07/2024

TAH attended an excellent free lecture last night at the Royal Aeronautical Society’s London HQ, given by our fellow RAeS Aeronautical Heritage Specialist Group committee member Dr Victoria Taylor (). It was entitled “Fledglings of the Third Reich” — here’s part of the official abstract:
The National Socialist Flyers Corps (NSFK) instructed N**i Germany’s “Aviation Hi**er Youth” boys and other aspirants of flight in all matters of aviation. Intended as a preparatory school for Luftwaffe personnel of the future, the organisation delivered both theoretical and practical aeronautical training to these keen young aviators. More sinisterly, however, they also intertwined their instruction with virulent N**i ideology and propaganda. This lecture determines how the NSFK attempted to entice Germany’s youth into flying for both the Führer and the fatherland.
The next Heritage Group lecture in London will be on September 26, when Ron Smith and Jeremy Graham will be talking about “Westland Aircraft & Rotorcraft: Secret Projects & Cutting-Edge Technology”, the subject of their recently-published book.

10/07/2024

Thanks to TAH Chief Technical Artist and Editorial Board member Ian Bott of Ian Bott Illustration for this alert:

🚨 NEW BOOK ALERT!

rejoice: Our newest book, A Wartime Necessity, is now out. This work takes a look at and how applied research generated aeronautical advances critical to the war effort, both in the U.S. and abroad.

Download the free e-book: https://go.nasa.gov/45W70Vq

08/07/2024

Incoming!
Copies of the print version of our new issue, TAH48, will soon be on their way to readers in the UK and overseas, in advance of official publication on Monday, July 15.
In the meantime, the print issue is now available to order via our website, a few days earlier than usual.
Here are the front cover and contents page. To order TAH48 or back-issues, click on the blue “Learn More” button under the heading pic on this page, which will take you to our website.

07/07/2024

TAH48 has arrived from the printers!
Our 48th quarterly issue of The Aviation Historian has been in the building for a couple of days, and we are busily packaging copies ready to send out to subscribers in the UK and worldwide in advance of official publication on Monday, July 15.
Our cover subject, the decidedly over-the-top Convair B-58 Hustler (the second time it’s been on our cover — irresistible!), heralds Chris Gibson’s new two-part article on the USAF’s 1967 trials of the SAC nuclear bomber for potential use as a tactical bomber in Vietnam.
Also in TAH48: the nuts and bolts of the Blue Steel missile; a first-hand recollection of flying a D.H.9A between Baghdad and Tehran in the 1920s; how the Airbus A320 revived Britain’s civil aerospace industry; dogfighting Harriers and Mirages in the Falklands; and much, much more.
Watch out for further details on our website from this evening onwards, when the new issue will be available to order.

30/06/2024

Upcoming in TAH48, to be published on July 15:

Issue 48 of The Aviation Historian, out in a couple of weeks will contain an in-depth series of artworks by me looking at the workings of Blue Steel, the RAF V-Force’s stand-off missile of the 1960s. I did a large amount of original research for the artwork, much of it at the RAF Museum, and this artwork was done during that research. It shows the missile, one of two on show at Hendon, on its AEC Mandator carrier

24/06/2024

The Aviation Historian is looking forward to listening to this latest podcast from our friends at Aviation Xtended, and comparing the findings with Jan Bartelski's analysis which we published in our previous life on Aeroplane Monthly a little over 30 years ago (September & October 1993 issues).

We talk to Chris Wroblewski and Garth Barnard about their in-depth investigation of the 1943 B-24 Liberator crash that killed Polish General Sikorski, and dispel the myths and conspiracies around a…

28/05/2024

The latest podcast episode from our friends at Aviation Xtended is now available — The Aviation Historian is listening to it right now.

Amanda Harrison has always wanted to recreate the footsteps of Amy Johnson, flying solo in a Tiger Moth from the UK to Darwin, Australia in just 20 Days.

05/05/2024

Managing Editor Mick is joined by TAH authors for a lively discussion in the newest episode of the Aviation Xtended podcast, just released. Let us know what you think!

Mick Oakey, Robert Forsyth and Chris Gibson come back to the History Round Table to answer listener questions. We discuss what books do not get written, what they would love to read, their proudest…

04/05/2024

Further sad news: renowned artist Roy Cross has died, soon after celebrating his 100th birthday:

Very sad to hear that we've lost another Legend of aviation art with the passing of Roy Cross at the age of 100. Roy was of course the chap who painted Airfix's box art during the glory days and inspired most of us current aviation artists in our youth. For me his 1/24 kit Hurricane painting was one of his best. I remember receiving this kit twice for Christmas and both times just spending hours starting at the box art! What was your favourite of his?
Roy, you were an inspiration to us all, RIP.

03/05/2024

Sad news: prolific cutaway artist and illustrator Mike Badrocke died on Saturday April 27, at the age of 85, after a long illness. The Aviation Historian's Chief Technical Artist Ian Bott neatly sums up Mike's legacy here.

Got in from work. Pulled some books from the shelves containing the brilliant work of Mike Badrocke and raised a glass to him. If you have a book with aviation artwork and cutaways on your shelves, you’ve probably got some of his work too

02/05/2024

A worthwhile cause to support here — essentially, don't cover the UK's dwindling number of airfields in houses. Once aerodromes are gone, they're gone for good.

Airfields around the country are categorised as brownfield sites making them attractive for development of housing estates.

25/04/2024

Yesterday Managing Editor Mick got together with TAH Editorial Board member Ian Bott of Ian Bott Illustration at The Royal Air Force Club in London's Piccadilly for a beer or three to celebrate Ian's 40 years in the illustration business. And earlier in the day Mick and Editor Nick had spent time at the Club with another TAH stalwart (of which more news soon) for further positive discussions about the upcoming changes that we are planning. While there it was also great to bump into another TAH Editorial Board member, Capt Dacre Watson; as well as TAH author Vic Flintham; fellow magazine editor Andy Saunders of Iron Cross magazine; and Allan Winn, former Editor and Publisher of Flight International, Brooklands Museum Director and now Chairman of Aviation Heritage UK.

I’ve worked with a lot of editors and art directors over the years, all different in their own idiosyncratic ways. I’m lucky that a lot of them have been very good indeed but, in addition, a select few stand out for the way they’ve challenged and encouraged me and indeed put up with my prima donna artist behaviour and this is one of the best of them. I met up with Mick Oakey at the RAF Club this afternoon where we raised a glass to me completing 40 years as a working illustrator and I’ve been working continuously on projects for Mick and his various teams for over half of that time. It’s an entirely appropriate venue for all sorts of reasons, not least that it was Mick originally suggested I be proposed for membership. Cheers

21/04/2024

Eyes down . . . plenty of customers at today’s Gatwick Aviation Fair.

21/04/2024

Open for business at today’s Gatwick Aviation Fair!

20/04/2024

Lots of items to choose from in this collection recently acquired by East Anglia Books:

20/04/2024

The Aviation Historian will be at the fair tomorrow, at the K2 Centre in Crawley - see you there?

We are all ready for Sunday, the last sign has just been delivered. We look forward to welcoming everyone to the 33rd Gatwick Aviation Fair this coming Sunday 21st April. What are you looking to buy?

19/04/2024

In our new issue, TAH47, published a few days ago, David H. Stringer completes his two-part survey of the chequered history of the USA’s helicopter airlines. Here’s the opening spread of the feature (click to enlarge).

For lots more info about TAH47, click on the blue “Learn More” button under the heading pic on this page; that will take you to our website, where you can also order the issue, a subscription, browse our full range of back-issues and/or download our free index.

18/04/2024

How to fly across the Atlantic in nine (or ten) easy stages — our new quarterly issue, TAH47, officially published on Monday, sees the opening of a two-part series about the inter-war Armstrong Seadrome concept, a chain of floating aerodromes strung out across the ocean. Here’s the opening spread of the feature (click to enlarge).

For lots more info about TAH47, click on the blue “Learn More” button under the heading pic on this page; that will take you to our website, where you can also order the issue, a subscription, browse our full range of back-issues and/or download our free index.

17/04/2024

In our new quarterly issue, TAH47, officially published a couple of days ago, we continue our series on Britain’s aerial weapons with an in-depth look at the reliable and long-serving Lewis Gun. Weapons specialist Mark Russell provides the history, while TAH Editorial Board member Ian Bott provides the technical information graphics. Here’s the opening spread of the feature (click to enlarge).

For lots more info about TAH47, click on the blue “Learn More” button under the heading pic on this page; that will take you to our website, where you can also order the issue, a subscription, browse our full range of back-issues and/or download our free index.

16/04/2024

In our new quarterly issue, TAH47, officially published yesterday, we look at the USAF’s remarkable but operationally short-lived radio-guided bombs of the Korean War. Here’s the opening spread of the feature (click to enlarge).

For lots more info about TAH47, click on the blue “Learn More” button under the heading pic on this page; that will take you to our website, where you can also order the issue, a subscription, browse our full range of back-issues and/or download our free index.

15/04/2024

A significant announcement here, of which subscribers will already be aware:

15/04/2024

Here's another glimpse of what's on offer in our new issue, TAH47, officially published today:

Issue 47 of The Aviation Historian is out today, Apr 15 and includes a new set of artworks by me taking a deep dive into the components and operation of the Lewis Gun. The illustrations accompany a great article by Mark Russell about the history of the weapon in RAF usage

15/04/2024

TAH47 is out today!

The latest issue of The Aviation Historian is officially published today, although print subscribers in the UK and worldwide have already been receiving their copies. As ever, this new edition of our high-quality — and eminently collectable — compact-format quarterly journal contains a stimulating variety of articles.

Here’s the opening spread of one of them (double-click to enlarge it): Colonel John W. Zink’s first-hand recollections of test-flying and instructing on the stealthy Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk.

For further info about TAH47, plus back-issues, click on the blue “Learn More” button under the heading pic on this page, which will take you to our website.

08/04/2024

Incoming!

Subscriber copies of the print version of our new issue, TAH47, are now on their way to readers in the UK and overseas, in advance of official publication on Monday, April 15.

In the meantime, the print issue is now available to order via our website, a few days earlier than usual.

Our front cover subject is the prototype Short Sturgeon carrier-borne reconnaissance bomber. Along with the Westland Wyvern, it features in the second part of our series looking at Royal Aircraft Establishment flight test reports — in this case both aircraft were being assessed for their deck-landing characteristics by the great Lt-Cdr Eric “Winkle” Brown.

Also in TAH47: Professor Keith Hayward’s exploration of the political backdrop to the UK’s Al-Yamamah defence sales programme to Saudi Arabia during the early 1980s; an in-depth look at the Lewis Gun; the flying life and brutal death of RAAF Hampden pilot Jimmy Catanach, one of the 50 airmen murdered by the Gestapo after the “Great Escape” in March 1944; a Canadian inventor’s stillborn inter-war project to create a chain of floating airports or “Seadromes” across the Atlantic; first-hand recollections of training to become a flying instructor on the Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk stealth attack aircraft; and much more.

For further info about TAH47, plus back-issues, click on the blue “Learn More” button under the heading pic on this page, which will take you to our website.