Nicknamed the HammerHead, the P.1HH looks like a mythical beast flying through the sky; and, naturally, it’s status in modern aviation is a mysterious one, indeed. The “P” stands for Piaggio Aerospace, the multinational aeronautical engineers headquartered in — you guessed it — Italy. Piaggio, though lesser known in the states than some American manufacturers, [...]
Even centuries-old aircraft will look somewhat familiar to modern aviation enthusiasts. Early aviation engineers discovered pretty quickly there was a certain, standard structure for aircrafts that seemed capable of sustaining flight. Before there were documented stories, there were legends of men adhering bird-like wings to their arms, complete with plucked feathers and ancient glue-like substances. And [...]
The National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. considers it one of the most significant aviation-related artifacts in their entire collection; it is the Vin Fiz, the peculiarly-named flyer designed by the iconic Wright Brothers. In 1903, the Wright Brothers designed and successfully flew the first Wright Flyer — the world’s first heavier-than-air, powered [...]
The Shoo Shoo baby is a B-17 Flying Fortress that fought on the Allied side in World War II, but its story doesn’t end there. The aircraft was given to Sweden for use as a 17-passenger airliner once the war had culminated – yet, out of respect for the USA, Sweden eventually gave the gift [...]
Next time you see a commercial jet soaring overhead, take a look and appreciate just how spectacular the science behind the machine actually is. It seems impossible; how could so much weight move so smoothly through the air? How does it maintain flight? Many pilots and aerospace engineers would be quick to pass on a [...]
A CNN article touts it as the "most historic plane in the world." The Air Force One of JFK. It's the SAM 26000, and its a beauty. "This ain't just ANY Air Force One. SAM 26000 saw more historic events than any other -- ranging from the tragic to the hilarious. A national treasure, the [...]
Earlier this year, Alaska Airlines operated the first successful commercial flights using a blend of traditional jet fuel and biofuels. The idea of renewable jet fuel is not often given too much consideration among the world’s airlines – while most are aware of the excessive amounts of fuels burned every day in aircraft engines, there [...]
It's a dangerous process -- but a necessary one. The refueling of jet planes around the globe are constantly looking to improve the technology behind air-to-air refueling. For the United States Armed Forces, there are two different methods used for this specific process: one more primarily used by the US Navy, and the other by [...]
It sounds useful – and unlikely; yet, believe it or not, a US Navy aircraft, capable of supersonic speeds and water takeoff and landing, was crafted over half-a-century ago. It was called the F2Y Sea Dart, and it was probably the coolest looking machine that ever…well…floated. The now-defunct Convair aircraft manufacturing company entered a “contest” [...]
The aging SAAB JAS-39 Gripen is a veteran member of several of the world’s most powerful air fleets – certainly not only because it is fairly priced, but also because it is functional; not to mention, the JAS-39 is known for its execution: nearly any flight mission can be carried out by the Swedish masterpiece [...]
