Afterburner - The Aviation Magazine

6 June 2025

AVIATION HISTORY

6 June 1917 – Sopwith Cuckoo is approved for test flight

On 6th June 1917, the first wheeled torpedo-carrying aircraft in the world, Sopwith Cuckoo biplane, was officially approved for test flight. Shortly after, the aeroplane performed its maiden flight, although the exact date is unknown. Development of the first landplane [...]
AIR SHOW REPORTS

Marked by jubilees – the 44th International Sanicole Airshow

The 44th International Sanicole Airshow, held on 22nd September 2024, was one of the final events in the 2024 air show calendar and, with no exaggeration, a jewel in the crown of European aviation events. The show returned to Sanicole [...]
PHOTO OF THE WEEK

LWF model V

LWF model V (c/n – , ´4´ of the Czechoslovak Legion), exhibited in the National Technical Museum, Prague, April 2025. In December of 1915, Edward Lowe Jr., Charles F. Willard, and Robert G. Fowler founded an aviation manufacturing company with [...]
AIR SHOW NEWS

2025 European air show season – news and updates (3)

Every year, we are bringing your attention to some of the upcoming aviation events in Europe and sharing our experiences from their previous editions, as well as telling you the reasons, why we consider them interesting and worth visiting. And [...]
AVIATION HISTORY

30 May 1944 – maiden flight of Pilatus SB-2 Pelikan

On 30th May 1944, the Swiss-developed SB-2 Pelikan (English: pelican) light transport aircraft, performed its maiden flight. In 1938, the then Swiss Eidgenössisches Luftamt (Federal Aviation Office) launched the programme of new light transport aircraft, able to operate from short [...]

Operation K – the longest bomb raid at the time

AVIATION HISTORY

26 May 2025

Between 3rd and 5th March 1942, the naval aviation of the Japanese Imperial Navy performed the long-range bomb raid on Oahu Island, commonly known as the second attack on Pearl Harbor. Officially codenamed Kē-Sakusen (K作戦 [...]

20th anniversary of Gripen service with the Czech Air Force

FEATURED

21 April 2025

Twenty years ago, on 18th April 2005, the first Swedish-made supersonic jet fighters arrived to 21. základna taktického letectva (the 21st Tactical Air Force Base) in Čáslav, therefore opening the Gripen era in the Czech [...]

AVIATION HISTORY