I love that phrasing: “he became aware” .. .it makes it sound like such a calm moment. I don’t usually haunt the accident reports (they make me nervous) but this one was someone I know. The subject came up the first time as I was doing circuits at Oxford Airport for my night rating. I…
Read more… 19 May 07
Edit: see the comments for a direct response from Zazzle. I’m starting to think about the details now and who to target with the descriptions. I decided some queries in the US would help to gauge interest in flying around British islands. I realised that the first thing I needed was US postage stamps for…
Read more… 7 May 07
Anne’s crisp voice came through loud and clear on my headset as the English coast retreated behind us. “Does anyone want a biscuit?” Cliff responded for the both of us. “Not now, Mum. It’s only a short flight.” He shook the map at her, as if she could see it from the rear seat. I…
Read more… 27 Apr 07
Driving along a coastal road, I saw something at the last moment. “Stop the car! There was a sign back there.” Cliff slammed on the brakes. “A sign for what?” “I dunno, but it looked interesting.” He gave me a nasty look but backed the car up and found a wide bit of road to…
Read more… 20 Apr 07
The Parish Church of St Brelade is a romantic Norman stone structure, dating from the 11th century, a reminder of French government of Jersey. I paused to look at the stained glass windows but I was much more interested in its neighbour, The Fisherman’s Chapel. The Fisherman’s Chapel is a chantry, a medieval pay-for-prayer chapel…
Read more… 12 Apr 07
From my notes We arrived at the station where I tried to buy a Day Rover, unlimited travel on both the electric train and the steam train. “It’s a special event” said the unshaven man at the counter. “I can do you a return to Ryde and you just get off at Smallbrook Junction.” I…
Read more… 31 Mar 07
Last week, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Commission, formed by the Government of Nepal to investigate the accident of 9N-AME on the 24th of July 2024, released their final report. There’s…
On the 12th of June 2025, a Boeing 787-8, registered in India as VT-ANB, was operating as flight Air India 171 for a passenger flight from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick.…
This is not an article that I ever thought I would feel compelled to write! However, given the confusion over a photograph chosen in a regional English paper, apparently it’s…
There are a number of reasons why you might need to quickly point out the differences between a General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon and a Eurofighter EF2000 Typhoon. You might…
This video of a mid-air wheel exchange goes viral once a year or so, but I never get tired of watching it. Last week, it showed up on Reddit and…
This week, we have a guest post by J.B. Rivard who wrote an article for the American Aviation Historical Society (AAHS) and used one of my articles as a reference.…
I’m here, defeated but not yet horizontal, the victim of a relentless summer cold that feels like the universe’s revenge for something I can’t even remember. If I don’t make…
It seems a good time for something a bit more lighthearted. After weeks of analyzing serious incidents and technical failures, I thought I could a moment to appreciate aviation humuor…