Tag: RAF

The Survivors: Bristol Beaufighter – The “Whispering Death” of the Pacific and Beyond!

DAP Beaufighter Mk.21 (A8-328) at the Australian National Aviation Museum, Moorabbin Airport, Victoria (May 2019)

Reportedly dubbed “Whispering Death” by Japanese ground forces due to its quiet engines (courtesy of engine sleeve valves), fast and powerful Bristol Beaufighter heavy fighters were flown by Allied pilots to strike Axis shipping and ground targets in the European, North African, Mediterranean and South West Pacific theatres of World War Two. I can picture… Read More The Survivors: Bristol Beaufighter – The “Whispering Death” of the Pacific and Beyond!

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Australian War Memorial: Messerschmitt Me 262 “Black X”

Luftwaffe Me-262 "Black X" at the Australian War Memorial

Within the Striking by Night exhibition of the Australian War Memorial sits some of the most famous World War Two aircraft produced by German aviation company Messerschmitt AG. The jewel in the crown is a Messerschmitt Me 262A-2a jet fighter-bomber “Jabo” variant. The Me 262 was the world’s first fully operational jet aircraft. The Australian… Read More Australian War Memorial: Messerschmitt Me 262 “Black X”

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Yugoslav Air Force Combat Aircraft: 1941 to 1952

Yugoslav manned Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb's of RAF No 352 (Y) Squadron, Balkan Air Force preparing for their first mission in Canne, Italy on August 18th, 1944

Royal Yugoslav Air Force The original Royal Yugoslav Air Force operated from 1918 to 1941 and at the start of World War Two was equipped with a large number of modern combat aircraft from numerous nations which were purchased directly and licence-built. These included Bristol Blenheim I (61), Dornier DO-17K (69) and Savoia-Marchetti SM.79K (40) bombers and… Read More Yugoslav Air Force Combat Aircraft: 1941 to 1952

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Ross & Keith Smith Vickers Vimy & the 1919 England to Australia Air Race

Keith Smith, Ross Smith, Sgt. Jim Bennett and Sgt. Wally Shiers in front of the Vickers Vimy in 1919

At the Adelaide Airport in South Australia is possibly one of the cities best hidden aviation treasures. In an obscure and almost forgotten location down near the airport long-term parking, sits the Sir Ross & Sir Keith Smith War Memorial building (established 1958). Inside is the immaculate looking World War One era Vickers Vimy IV G-EAOU (dubbed “God ‘Elp All Of Us“). Vickers… Read More Ross & Keith Smith Vickers Vimy & the 1919 England to Australia Air Race

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A Brief History of V/STOL Combat Aircraft – Part IV: The Joint Strike Fighter

USMC Lockheed-Martin F-35B Lightning II STOVL at the 2015 Yuma Airshow in Arizona vertical hover

In my previous blogs I discussed the early experimental, prototype and operational V/STOL combat jet aircraft such as the Harrier and Harrier II that were developed in the late 1950’s through to the 1980’s. By the 1980’s significant improvements had been made in performance, handling and the weapons load capability of V/STOL combat jets but now stealth technology and advanced avionics,… Read More A Brief History of V/STOL Combat Aircraft – Part IV: The Joint Strike Fighter

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A Brief History of V/STOL Combat Aircraft – Part III: From the Harrier II to the Yak-141

Harrier GR.9 aboard Royal Navy HMS Illustrious in 2009 (Photo Source: UK Ministry of Defence)

In my previous blogs I discussed the early experimental, prototype and operational V/STOL combat jet aircraft that were developed in the late 1950’s through to the late 1970’s. By the 1980’s significant improvements had been made in performance, handling and the weapons load capability of new V/STOL combat jets. The following is a brief history on these second generation V/STOL… Read More A Brief History of V/STOL Combat Aircraft – Part III: From the Harrier II to the Yak-141

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A Brief History of V/STOL Combat Aircraft – Part II: Enter the Harrier and the Soviet Forger

RAF Harrier GR.3 firing entire salvo of 4 rocket pods

Vertical/Short Take Off Vertical Landing (V/STOL) combat jet aircraft began to enter service to operate from normal bases, damaged airfields, rugged forward field deployments close to combat zones and from air-capable ships such as aircraft carriers and helicopter carriers. The United Kingdom, France, West Germany, the Soviet Union and the United States dabbled with V/STOL aircraft designs but ultimately only the… Read More A Brief History of V/STOL Combat Aircraft – Part II: Enter the Harrier and the Soviet Forger

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