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25 August 2025
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AVIATION HISTORY FRIDAY

12 May 1940 – the first operational sortie by Defiant interceptor

11 May 2023 Jacek Domański

On 12th May 1940, Boulton Paul Defiant fighter performed its first operational sortie. On that day, six aircraft of that type, together with six Spitfires, executed a combat patrol over the English Channel and coastal […]

AVIATION HISTORY FRIDAY

5 May 1953 – Christopher Draper flies under fifteen bridges on the Thames

4 May 2023 Jacek Domański

On 5th May 1953, Christopher Draper – commonly known as the Mad Major – performed an incredible stunt by flying under fifteen (out of eighteen planned) bridges on the river Thames, located within the greater […]

MILITARY AVIATION

Tamber Shield – new military exercise in the northern Europe

3 May 2023 Jacek Domański

In the second half of April 2023, coastal waters of Norway turned into a simulated battleground between helicopters and superfast vessels. That´s because of a new joint military exercise codenamed ´Tamber Shield 2023´, held in […]

AVIATION HISTORY FRIDAY

10 March 1925 – first flight of Supermarine Southampton

9 March 2023 Jacek Domański

On 10th March 1925, the British military reconnaissance flying boat Supermarine Southampton performed its first flight. In the mid-1920s, the British authorities were hopelessly looking for new flying boats for military service. At that time, […]

AVIATION HISTORY FRIDAY

3 March 1912 – first flight of Avro 500

2 March 2023 Jacek Domański

On 3rd March 1912, Avro 500 military utility biplane designed by A.V. Roe, performed its maiden flight. Alliott Verdon Roe, the British aircraft manufacturer and pioneer pilot, started his aviation career in the early 1900s, […]

AVIATION HISTORY FRIDAY

17 February 1864 – Hilda Hewlett is born

16 February 2023 Jacek Domański

On 17th February 1864, in Vauxhall (London), Hilda Beatrice Hewlett, the British aviation pioneer and entrepreneur, was born. Hilda´s father, G. W. Herbert, was a vicar of Church of England and she had eight siblings. […]

AIR SHOW NEWS

The Blades Aerobatic Team to be disbanded

6 February 2023 Kacper Kolibowski

On 23rd January 2023, The Blades Aerobatic Display Team officially announced that, by decision of the team’s parent company 2Excell Aviation, 2022 was regrettably the last full season for the group. The Blades team have […]

AVIATION HISTORY FRIDAY

4 November 1909 – Pigs can fly

3 November 2022 Jacek Domański

On 4th November 1909, John Moore-Brabazon made a flight with a pig placed in a wastepaper basket attached to his aeroplane, to prove that ´pigs can fly´. ´When pigs fly´ is a common phrase in […]

OTHER

Red Arrows Aerobatic Team bid farewell to RAF Scampton station

26 October 2022 Kacper Kolibowski

As reported by the Royal Air Force on its official website, on 21st October 2022, the last aircraft of the Red Arrows Aerobatic Team had left RAF Scampton station, taking-off from there for the last […]

AVIATION HISTORY FRIDAY

2nd September 1947 – maiden flight of Hawker Sea Hawk

2 September 2022 Jacek Domański

On 2nd September 1947, prototype of new Hawker jet aircraft designated P.1040 (VP401) or, following its naval designation, N.7/46, performed its first flight. Two years later, the aircraft was approved for serial production and received […]

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Recent Articles
  • X-37B is back in space
  • 22 August 1922 – first flight of Vickers Victoria
  • Nigerian Air Force – another step towards AH-1Z acquisition
  • Bölkow P-166/3
  • RWD-8 – the most-produced pre-war Polish aircraft
  • 15 August 1935 – maiden flight of Seversky P-35
  • Slam dunk from the sky – how basketball merged with aviation in Poland
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