Xtended

Amanda Harrison has always wanted to recreate the footsteps of Amy Johnson, flying solo in a Tiger Moth from the UK to Darwin, Australia in just 20 Days. Listen in as she tells us the tale of the attempt and how things unfolded. From Dracula’s Castle to Mediterranean wonders! Although a professional pilot, Amanda is also dyslexic, an additional challenge in planning and executing this journey. Rec...

Mick Oakey, Robert Forsyth and Chris Gibson come back to the History Round Table to answer listener questions. We discuss what books do not get written, what they would love to read, their proudest work and what do they think about graphics and photos in books and articles. Along with advice for budding aviation authors this is an enjoyable roundtable that book enthusiasts and those interested in...

There is a new podcast focused on RAF Bomber Command in World War Two hosted by Writer and Military Historian Jane Gulliford Lowes and Historian and co host James Jefferies. It is of course 'Never Mind The Dambusters'!    In this, our landmark 200th episode, we get the opportunity to talk to Jane and James about Bomber Command and the challenges the aircrews faced in their multi tasked env...

  Samuel de Korte is a graduate student of Utrecht University, where he studied an MA in the Cultural History of Modern Europe. He wrote his Master's thesis about the representation of black Americans during the Second World War, indicating that although they formed a substantial part of the American armed forces, they don't receive an equal share in the representation in contemporary medi...

Finalising our focus on how the use of AI, data and machine learning is changing the sector, we are joined by Andy Taylor, the Chief Solutions Officer at NATS.    NATS it is the UK's leading provider of air traffic control services as well as providing air traffic services to airports, airlines, air traffic service providers and governments across parts of Europe, the Middle East and Asia.   ...

In 2023 Dave Homewood from the Wings Over New Zealand podcast visited the UK to record and document Kiwi aviation involvement in World War Two by visiting some of our historic aircraft, museums, airfields and memorials.    Dave is returning in 2024 but with a slightly different agenda. We caught up with Dave as he planned the return ‘Wings Over Britain’ visit.    Recorded 19th March 2024      Cont...

Steven Bailey discovered that the story of the U.S. Navy airstrikes on Japanese-held Hong Kong during the final year of World War II had never been told. Operation Gratitude involved nearly 100 U.S. Navy warships and close to a thousand planes. His new book ‘Target Hong Kong’ brings this massive operation down to a human scale, recounting the air raids through the experiences of seven men whose li...

Dr Tony Redding is a military historian and author with a particular interest in RAF Bomber Command. He joins us to talk us through the operational capability and credibility of Britain’s airborne nuclear deterrent during the peak years of the Cold War.   Recorded 23rd Feb 2024   Contact Us: GetInvolved@aviation-Xtended.co.uk   You can order a copy of this book whilst supporting local bookshops he...

Continuing our focus on how data and technology has changed the aviation sector we welcome Diana Franganillo Luque from Indra and Udi Segall from Intell-Act to discuss an exciting project to integrate all airport, airline and air traffic data using AI to streamline the ‘Perfect Aircraft Pit-stop.    Recorded 7th Feb 2024      Contact Us: GetInvolved@aviation-Xtended.co.uk      Diana Fraganillo Luq...

Ryan Noppen joins to help us understand the overlooked air battle between the Netherlands and Germany that thwarted the German invasion of Holland in 1940 for five days.    Ryan is a military author with a Master of Arts degree in European history. Ryan is a scholar of Dutch, German and Central European history and the author of ‘Holland 1940, The Luftwaffe’s first set back in the west’.    Record...

Paul Beaver joins us to talk about Britain’s Greatest Test Pilot, Captain Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown.    His best selling book, reprinted 5 times and last year’s Biography of the Year is ‘Winkle: The Extraordinary Life of Britain’s Greatest Pilot’.   Paul gives us an insight to this amazing mans life. This is a fascinating feature. Don’t miss it!    Recorded 31st Jan 2024     Contact Us: GetInvolved@avia...

We welcome back Brain Harvey to talk us through the history and evolution of JAXA and the Japanese Space Programme.      Recorded 23rd Jan 2024     Contact Us: GetInvolved@aviation-Xtended.co.uk      Get a copy of Japan In Space: Past, Present and Future by Brian Havey at our Bookshop    Brian Harvey  Web - https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-45573-5     Amazon - Japan In Space: Past,...

This updated edition of Paul Crickmore's classic  Lockheed Blackbird: Beyond the Secret Missions  is based on 850 pages of documentation and images declassified by the CIA covering the A-12 Oxcart programme.    Paul joins us to talk about the A-12 and SR-71, the missions and their challenges, but also to discuss the changes in this new edition which includes a 40% increase in words, three new...

In 2000 a team of retired pensioners set about building Scotland’s only World War One aircraft, the Sopwith Strutter. That airframe is now ready to fly and Ellie is in the prime position to test fly it. Find out why they built the aircraft, the challenges they faced and how the team now go about taking her to the air.  Please support the Kickstarter programme if you can, even a small donation will...

 Legendary battle of Britain fighter ace Stanford Tuck is the subject of a new book by Helen Doe.   ‘Stanford Tuck Hero of the Battle of Britain, the life of the great fighter ace’, is published by Grub Street and is available now.    Recorded 24th October 2023     Contact Us: GetInvolved@aviation-Xtended.co.uk      Helen Doe  Web https://www.helendoe.uk/    Twitter https://twitter.com/DrHelenDoe...

Rowland White joins us to discuss his new book ‘Mosquito: The RAF's Legendary Wooden Wonder and its Most Extraordinary Mission’. Rowland amazes us with his knowledge and detail behind the aircraft and focus of the book. Enjoy the stories, the heroes and villains and of course the de Havilland Mosquito! Recorded 17th October 2023 Contact Us: GetInvolved@aviation-Xtended.co.uk Rowland White Web...

Tomislav Lang, Managing Director of FlyVbird joins us to talk about the pioneering tech airline model that will revolutionise airline travel in the future. The methodology is based upon a low cost, on demand air service, driven by proprietary algorithm and software architecture. In this exclusive discussion we hear the exciting news of FlyVBird and its plans for launching the service. Recorded 9th...

This episode we start a new focus on how data has, and continues to change, the aerospace and aviation sector.   We will have a few episodes that will come out over the next month or two that specifically challenges our guests to talk about how data, the cloud, AI and machine learning are changing the aerospace sector.  We actually started with our last episode where we talked to Xwing about their...

In 2021, Xwing made history by completing the world’s first autonomous cargo flight.  During the demonstration — Xwing’s CESSNA 208 Caravan backed out of its gate, taxied onto the runway, took off, flew a predetermined mission, landed, and returned to its gate. All entirely on its own. The flight was supervised by Xwing’s remote crew on the ground, along with a safety pilot.   We are joined by Max...

What happens when you put three authors and publishers around a table to discuss the challenges of writing historical aviation content?   Find out in this fascinating insight on what it is like to research, write and publish accurate and compelling historical aviation books and magazines.     Mick Oakey is a familiar voice to many and is of course Managing Editor at The Aviation Historian. Mick wa...

We continue our Test Pilot series with Commander Nathan Gray, who joins us to talk about his book ‘Hazard Spectrum’. With over 140 combat missions to his name, he is among the most decorated pilots in the British armed forces and we share Nathan’s journey to the top of the Fleet Air Arm, from student to F-35 Test Pilot.   But, the episode starts with the sobering account of how he walked away from...

Mark Lardas joins us to talk about the ‘The Kamikaze Campaign 1944–45 - Imperial Japan's last throw of the dice’ his book published by Osprey. Mark of course was a major part of our Coastal Command series, nominated for an International Aerospace Media Award.   Mark has been fascinated by all things related to the sea and sky his entire life; from building models of ships and aircraft as a tee...

Dave Homewood from the Wings Over New Zealand podcast took on the almighty task of a 35-day tour of as many UK aviation heritage locations as he could squeeze in. All in the spirit of recording a new podcast series called the Wings Over Britain!   The first few episodes are already out, and they bring a fresh view of the sector from an avid enthusiast but also from an advocate (in Dave) for keepin...

The true story of the largest polar rescue mission in history is pretty much unknown in most aviation circles. Until now! Mark Piesing author of the book N4 Down joins us to discuss this almost unbelievable story of human suffering and tragedy, political drama, incompetence and heroism. This story has everything! Recorded 18th July 2023  Buy ‘N4 Down’ at the Xtended Bookshop  https://uk.bookshop.o...

In the book 'Royal Navy Cold War Buccaneer Pilot', author Simon Kershaw helps us relive the story of his father Steve Kershaw flying the mighty Buccaneer in Fleet Air Arm service.    Much of the tale comes from Steve’s own notes and memoirs, then picked up by Simon’s analysis of his final flight.    In the sobering finale we discuss Steve’s final flight and how Simon was able to piece toge...