royal air force

Today it is fifty years since the TSR.2 was cancelled: http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1965/apr/06/public-expenditure I'll be reflecting on this in the Trenchard Lecture I am giving at RAeS Cranwell next Monday, 13th, but it does always amaze me that we are still writing about it...

The Siddeley-Deasy Sinaia, also known as the Armstrong Whitworth Sinaia and Siddeley Deasy Type 103 was a twin-engine biplane day bomber with gunners in rearwards extensions of the engine nacelles. Four examples were initially ordered by the Air Ministry in 1917 but only one (serial J6858)...

The usual crew of retired military and political types are warning that the UK is not able to meet its defence requirements with the present budget and kit. Given the collective expertise on this board what advice would you give the Prime Minister who takes over in May after the election? I...

Hi, from Air Pictorial 12/1961,here is the Blackburn R.T.1 Kangaroo original design drawing,and the actually built.

Fairey proposed a semi-active air-to-air missile for F.155T fighters. This picture from Flight's 1955 Farnborough coverage shows a model that was displayed without info that year, the front part of it is thought to show the configuration of the Fairey AAM.

I've caught papacavy's "What If" disease, but this is purely for interest rather than literary purposes. As we all know, the Fairey Battle was an airplane which, once tested in combat, did not imbue its crews with any confidence that they would come home from attacking defended targets. Let's...

http://airminded.org/2008/06/04/moniac-and-the-warfare-state/ One of the interesting things about this is that the prototype of this 'analogue hydraulic computer' was built out of spare Lancaster parts!

The RAF ordered aircraft as Voyager KC2 and KC3, depending on the equipment. Did I miss something, but was there a Voyager KC1?

Hi, here is a two drawings to Bristol Type-172 long range bomber project for B35/46,and Bristol Type-174 scale flying model for E8/47,please note the drawing for 172 differs from Mr. Tony Buttler drawing of the book; British Secret Projects : Jet bombers since 1949. Air International magazine

A much reproduced painting of the RAF F111K from General Dynamics (it heads up the Wikipedia entry) shows the plane in a non-standard green and brown camouflage pattern. I had always put this down to artistic licence but then I found a similar colour scheme on the cover of the 1970 RAF Souvenir...

I know that this is a well trodden subject but I thought that it would be interesting to compare the plans with what happened in reality. Ground Attack/Recce Squadrons It was planned to replace the Hunter with the 1154 Harrier in 8 squadrons: 2 in the UK, 2 in Germany, 2 in the Gulf and 2 in...

Just wondered why this amazing aircraft doesn't enjoy such a reputation as compared to TSR2? Thinking back to the sixties would it not have made sense to take up the Yorkshire suggestion rather than one from a neighbouring county? After all a supersonic Bucc would have saved developmental...

An early study for a defensive turret in the Mosquito. Picture courtesy from lark

Textron and AirLand Enterprises will be unveiling its self-funded project, the two-seat, twin-engine Scorpion, on September 16th at the annual Air Force Association Air & Space Conference outside Washington. Officials gave already Aviation Leak, ehh, I mean Aviation Week & Space Technology, an...

Because I have the modelling skills of Homer Simpson I have to get models made for me. Recently I persuaded a friend who builds kits to build the Academy (I think) 1/72 Avro Arrow in two of my favourite Lightning squadrons. I already posted some years back pictures of an Arrow from the...

Hi, from ; Profile Aircraft,Avro Manchester by Chaz Bowyer.

Hi, the Hawker company developed in 1933,a monoplane version of its Fury biplane fighter,it remained a drawing board only. http://alternathistory.org.ua/fury-monoplane-ili-nemnogo-o-kharrikeine

It was the little biplane, which could be built around a 660-horsepower Rolls-Royce Goshawk III and based on the experience of the company with bodies flying boats, Petty used a covered working dural fuselage skin with integrated keel. The rest of the aircraft was a standard scheme for Blackburn...

How your Airfix model could be a museum piece For any overgrown Airfix enthusiasts who have clung on to their prized collections, it is an opportunity to dig them out of the loft, dust them down and finally give them the attention they deserve. By Jasper Copping 7:30AM GMT 10 Feb 2013 A...

The Admiralty and AEW was a great exposition of the Royal Navy's AEW work and, like many of the other denizens here, I've eagerly awaited the Chris' companion work The Air Staff and AEW. Yesterday I got a note from Amazon UK stating that The Air Staff and AEW is no longer available and...