Articles by Jacek Domański
Boeing X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle set for its eighth mission
Last week, Boeing announced that its X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) is being prepared for its eighth space mission, OTV-8. The vehicle is scheduled to launch from Florida’s Space Coast no earlier than 21st August […]
1 August 1977 – death of Francis Gary Powers
On 1st August 1977, Francis Gary Powers, one of the best-known American pilots of the Cold War era, died in a helicopter crash. Powers was born on 17th August 1929, in Jenkins, Kentucky. Reportedly, he […]
A breathtaking start to the air show season – Den ve vzduchu 2025
As every year, the last weekend of April belonged to the biggest air show event in the West Bohemia region of the Czech Republic – Den ve vzduchu (English: Day in the air). Traditionally held […]
Kaman HH-43F Huskie
Kaman HH-43F Huskie (c/n 174, formerly 62-4547 of the United States Air Force – USAF), exhibited at Hubschraubermuseum Bückeburg (Bückeburg Helicopter Museum), June 2025. The HH-43 Huskie, one of the most interesting helicopters developed in […]
A farewell to another Cold War icon – the uncertain future of the Dragon Lady
Two weeks ago, we described the current United States Air Force (USAF) plans to finally withdraw the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft from active service by the end of the fiscal year 2026. However, the […]
25 July 1909 – Louis Blériot performs the first successful flight across the English Channel
On 25th July 1909, Louis Blériot, the French aviation pioneer, became the first aviator to fly across the English Channel in a heavier-than-air aircraft, Blériot XI monoplane. Louis Charles Joseph Blériot was born on 1st […]
P-2 Neptune – from a private venture to the ruler of the Cold War seas
On 6th December 1941, just a day before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Vega Aircraft Corporation launched development of a new, land-based patrol aircraft. Initially, the project started as private venture of the company and […]
Hispano HA-200D Saeta
Hispano HA-200D Saeta (c/n 20/73, formerly in service with Ejército del Aire / the Spanish Air Force, D-IWMS of Messerschmitt Stiftung), departure from Neuburg air base, July 2025. In the late 1940s, with the beginning […]
18 July 1803 – Étienne-Gaspard Robert breaks the flight altitude record
On 18th July 1803, Étienne-Gaspard Robert set the new flight altitude record of 7,170 metres, flying with montgolfière-type hot air balloon. Étienne-Gaspard Robert was born on 15th June 1763, in the then Prince-Bishopric of Liége […]