Plane Tales

A special Plane Tale to celebrate the Airline Pilot Guy’s 300th anniversary show, centering on the Airbus A300.                       Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to Alex Beltyukov,  Eduard Marmet  and Warner Bros.

The story of the development of the first Supersonic airliners. The non existent Boeing, the successful Concorde and the disaster that was the TU144, Charger! Boeing 2707 mockup.   The TU144 flying at the 1973 Paris Air Show the day before it crashed.   The last ever flight of Concorde G-BOAF.   Images under Creative Commons licence,  Arpingstone  –  Adrian Pingstone ,  Ralf R...

The remarkable exploits of the Canadian fighter ace who fought in World War 1.  He remains the most decorated hero in the history of the Canadian armed service. Col Barker, VC, in one of the captured German aeroplanes against which he fought his last air battle in 1919.     Images under Creative Commons licence, Canadian Copyright Collection held by the British Library, Barker, Wm. G and...

A late night take off dissolves into a nightmare for a cargo crew flying a venerable Lockheed Electra as, one by one, their engines fail.   Image under Creative Commons licence,  RuthAS.

A union dispute against an aggressive and ruthless employer can result in sadness, bitterness and broken lives.  Nij Demery was a senior union representative and then president of such a union during the longest industrial action in aviation history.  This is the final part of his story.

A union dispute against an aggressive and ruthless employer can result in sadness, bitterness and broken lives.  Nij Demery was a senior union representative and then president of such a union during the longest industrial action in aviation history.  This is the second part of his story.

A union dispute against an aggressive and ruthless employer can result in sadness, bitterness and broken lives.  Nij Demery was a senior union representative and then president of such a union during the longest industrial action in aviation history.  This is the first part of his story.

The second part of a two part Plane Tale about the ex fighter pilot and aviation photographer and publisher, Ian Black.

The first of a two part Plane Tale about the ex fighter pilot and aviation photographer and publisher, Ian Black.  

Many might know this story of survival against all odds when a Uruguayan team from the Old Christians Rugby club fail to arrive at their destination.  Abandoned by the authorities high in the Andes, they choose life over death but only at a terrible cost to their consciences. Nando Parrado and Roberto Canessa, sitting. Images under Creative Commons licence, Pedro Escobal and Héctor Maffuche.

A steam pipe fitter from New York manages an incredible feat of flying skill, whilst under the influence, not once but twice!  So famous was he that they made a cocktail in his honour!  

9/11 had devastating consequences but for those who were trying to get home, into the closed airspace of the United States, their diversions to unexpected destinations opened their eyes to the generosity of strangers.     Images under Creative Commons licence, Wally Gobetz and CFB Gander.

The Nazi Germans in the Netherlands were using starvation as retribution and air drops were the only way to save thousands.  The RAF and American bomber crews provide the solution. A Lancaster bomber drops relief supplies to the Dutch people.   The people of the Netherlands spell out their thanks.      

By for the most successful vertical take off fighter ever built.  The Harrier was a technological success for Hawker Siddeley that produced a fast jet fighter that could land on a runway and in a ploughed field!         Images under Creative Commons licence by  Alan Wilson  and Anthony Noble.

An eclipse of the sun moves over the earth at an incredible speed and no aircraft could possibly keep up with the shadow it casts whilst carrying a whole team of expert observers… except perhaps one!       Images through Creative Commons licence, Sunil Gupta,  Natarajanganesan and   André Cros .

America is keeping the Second World War at arms length whilst a Pan Am Clipper is wending its way from San Francisco down to Auckland in New Zealand. What happens next is a remarkable achievement for a civilian airliner but it remains an almost unknown story.

The tragic death of a friend leads to a life saving technology that has saved so many pilots.  Martin Baker.     Images through Creative Commons licence,  StromBer and US Gov US Navy.

A faulty jet engine combustor leads to a tragic disaster but much is learned from the Manchester air disaster.   Images through Creative Commons licence, UK Gov Crown copyright.

In aviation we use a bewildering array of measurements, enough to confuse, baffle and discombobulate the average pilot.

The second of a two part tale which examines two bombers from the Second World War, their successes and their loss rates.  This tale is the story of the de Havilland Mosquito. The bombing of the Gestapo HQ in Copenhagen, Denmark.   Mosquito FB Mk XVIII carrying the 57mm Molins gun.     Images under Creative Commons licence, UK Gov, Crown copyright.

The first of a two part tale which examines two bombers from the Second World War, their successes and their loss rates.  This tale is the story of the Boeing B17. Boeing Y1B-17 in flight. (U.S. Air Force photo) Images under Creative Commons licence, US Gov.  

An unusual pilot helps to defend the island of Malta during its darkest period. A brave man who excelled at Photo Reconnaissance.       Image under Creative Commons licence, UK Gov Imperial War Museum.

The race across the Atlantic and those adventurous first aviators who tackled the huge body of water that separates Europe and America.   Charles Lindbergh and his aircraft, The Spirit of St Louis.   Images under Creative Commons licence, US Gov and Library of Congress.

Balloons, Air Ships, Dirigibles, Blimps, Aerostats and all things lighter than air. Tethered Aerostat Radar System.       Images under Creative Commons licence from the US Gov Library of Congress and farrider.us.

One of the most amazing aircraft to make it out of the Skunk Works, the SR71 Blackbird.