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Two dramatic and awful incidents when unsuspecting pilots are attacked on the Flight Deck, enough to put shivers down the spine. The title image is of Francisco Paula Gonzales, one of the murderers.
The Pacific Air Lines F27 that was involved in the tragedy of flight 773.
An Eastern Air Lines DC9.
The Eastern Airlines Training Centre plaque.
Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to The Beaver County Times and
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The dream of flight began with makeshift wings bound to men’s arms which, like Icarus from Green mythology failed, often with deadly results. This is the story of the pioneers who took to the air under their own power.
Zaschka’s Human-Power Aircraft, Berlin 1934.
SUMPAC was the first successful human powered aircraft.
The Gossamer Albatross II is seen here during a test flight at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Centre, Edwards, California.
Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to Madrid, Museo del Prado, Popular Science, Nimbus227 and NASA.
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The Vickers VC10 was an aircraft that was ahead of its time. Sleek, fast and powerful it was designed to please an airline which then turned its back on it. However, the VC10 won the hearts of many.
The RAF version of the VC10, the K3.
The VC10 flight deck including the ‘voice activated throttles’!
Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to Bahnfrend, Steve Fitzgerald and Chris Lofting.
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Despite being injured during a civil war and losing the sight of an eye, Carlos Dardano became a B737 Captain for TACA. On descent into New Orleans, he strayed into a thunderstorm with disastrous consequences. The fate of the aircraft its crew and passengers now depended on the flying skills of the Captain.
Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to US Gov, NTSB and other sources.
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During the height of the Cold War, a most unlikely spy plane gathered intelligence over East Germany on behalf of the Western allies. This is the little known story of the British Commander’s in Chief Mission to the Soviet forces in Germany!
The BRIXMIS logo.
The de Havilland Chipmunk.
A Soviet BMP photographed whilst a soldier aims at the Chipmunk!
Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to UK Gov (BRIXMIS) under Crown Copyright, Peter Farey, Adrian Pingstone and Roy Marsden.
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A rookie B17 pilot on his first mission over Germany struggling home in his crippled aircraft and a veteran Me109 fighter pilot with 27 kills and over 400 combat missions flown, meet in the air. The result should have been obvious but…
Boeing B-17F radar bombing through clouds over Bremen, Germany, on Nov. 13, 1943. (U.S. Air Force photo)
A B17 formation over Germany.
An Me109 of Jagdgeschwader 27.
Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to the US Gov and the Bundesarchiv.
