Historic & Museum Reports
Turkish Air Force Phantom’s turn 50!
Over the weekend of November 16/17, 2024, the Turkish Air Force (Türk Hava Kuvvetleri) celebrated the 50th anniversary of their F-4E Phantom Terminator 2020 in service at the Ist Main Jet Base Eskişehir; the operational home base for 111 Filo and the test unit 401 Filo. With aviation press and enthusiasts in attendance, what transpired was a truly exceptional event and Chris Lofting was there for AeroResource to provide his own personal experience of proceedings.
Jurmala Airport Air Zoo
Just 40 miles west of the Latvian capital Riga in the small sleepy town of Tukums sits Jurmala Airport. Once a Soviet air base, the site is now home to an interesting yet largely unknown museum concept known as the Jurmala Airport Air Zoo. Conceived initially by KSAvia, Duncan Monk [...]
Hawker Siddeley Harrier T4A XW271
From its initial conception and drawings made in 1957 by Ralph Hooper, the P.1127/P.1154/Kestrel went on to become the well-known and much loved icon of British aviation - the Hawker Siddeley Harrier. The first production Harrier GR1 (XV738) was flown for the first time on December 28, 1967 by Hawker [...]
WT333 First Flight 60th Anniversary
On 30th January, the quiet surroundings of Bruntingthorpe were replaced with the roar of jet engines as one of the airfield’s most colourful residents celebrated a huge milestone. Jamie Ewan was among the gathered guests as resident English Electric Canberra WT333 – better known as ‘Treble Three’ - celebrated 60 [...]
93rd Bomb Group Museum
During World War Two the shape of the Norfolk countryside was transformed with a multitude of airfields being built to support British and American forces operating over Europe and further afield. Whilst many of the airfields and memories may be long since gone, a few small groups of dedicated individuals work [...]
L’Epopee de l’Industrie et de l’Aeronautique
Hidden away in a nondescript industrial estate in the French town of Albert lies L'Epopee de l'Industrie et de l'Aeronautique - unknown to many who pass through. This collection of aircraft, vehicles and other varied items may be off the beaten track but is it worth seeking it out? Adam [...]
Smithsonian Institution Washington
The Smithsonian Institution comprises of 19 free national museums that hold some of the most significant documents and artefacts in American history. Two of these, located in downtown Washington D.C and Chantilly, VA, make up Smithsonian Air and Space. AeroResource correspondent Michael Lovering reports from the US capital. Museum Information [...]
USS Midway Museum
San Diego is recognised as the birthplace of Naval aviation and is therefore an apt home for a different type of aviation museum. One of five located around the USA, the USS Midway museum is the largest and Adam Duffield takes a look for AeroResource. Museum Information Opening as a [...]
Flying Leatherneck Museum
Miramar may well be best known to the general public as the setting for the famous 1986 movie ‘Top Gun’ but for the aviation enthusiast, it is home to one of the largest naval aviation bases within the United States. Currently home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing of the [...]
Newark Air Museum – 40th Anniversary
On the 14th April 1973 the Newark Air Museum in Nottinghamshire officially opened its doors. Adam Duffield takes a look at the museum, its history and exhibits as it celebrates its 40th anniversary. Newark Air Museum (NAM) is one of the UK’s largest volunteer managed aviation museums with over 23,000 [...]
Aeroseum – Göteborg
To the North of Göteborg, Sweden’s second largest city, lies the old military airfield of Säve - now a low cost carrier hub known as Göteborg City Airport. The eastern side of the airport holds a hidden gem in the form of an underground museum of aviation - the Aeroseum. [...]
Bomber Command – Interview Part One
Harry Irons’ logbook has been heavily used. The yellowing pages present information in a simple, emotionless context, but each and every entry has a story attached to it. In amongst the numerous training flights and air-tests are red entries, denoting an operation – no fewer than sixty. Steve Smith speaks [...]
Lackland Gateway Heritage Foundation
During late October 2012 AeroResource's Mark Forest and Jason Grant spent the day with Colonel (retired) Jaime Vazquez, President of Lacklands Gateway Heritage Foundation and visited the many aircraft preserved by the foundation along with the many other exhibits preserved round the base. Set in the largest organisation in the [...]
8th Air Force – The Mighty Eighth
August 1942 saw the commencement of operations of what was to become the biggest daylight bombing force ever assembled. The Eighth Air Force of the United States Army Air Force (as it was then) came to be known as “The Mighty Eighth” and with good reason. Steve Smith takes a [...]
The Century Bombers Return
On 4th May 2012, five men returned to a place that they had called home in the latter half or World War II. Some had not been back since to this place, that has become the stuff of legends, since 1945. Steve Smith was there for AeroResource.... The place in [...]
Coningsby Burials – Lest We Forget
If you look hard enough, in the cemeteries surrounding any given airbase, you are bound to come across headstones belonging to the brave crewmen from those bases, which paid the ultimate price. Steve Smith recounts forgotten events for AeroResource… I often find time on my base visits to spend [...]
The Bloody Hundredth
Harry Herbert Crosby, Group Navigator, 100th Bomb Group (1919-2010) and “The Bloody Hundredth” Two hours later, our formation together, we made a dogleg as we crossed the coast. The Colonel came on intercom. “Crosby, look at your 100th” I stood up in my compartment and looked out the celestial dome. [...]
RAF Broadwell
Steve Smith of Fighter Control and Runway Photography examines the history of a little known airbase located within 3,000 yards of RAF Brize Norton – the often forgotten RAF Broadwell. Many of the Fighter Control regulars will know Brize Norton. They will also know that there is very little in [...]