Category: Miscellaneous –  Page 28

Practice Flight on Google Earth

I sit at my desk, staring at the web browser. A voice inside my head says, Pass your message. “November 666 Echo X-ray is a PA32 travelling from Beziers to Altenrhein, Switzerland. We are currently west of the Alps at 7,500 feet and requesting a flight information service.” 7,500 feet! Flying past the Alps! Wow,…

Read more… 21 Jun 07

Flying High

Next weekend Cliff and I will be braving the Alps though which I’m already having nightmares about. We’ll be flying from Málaga to Lake Constance for a wedding which I’m very much looking forward to but there’s still the flight to plan (Argh, do we have maps for Switzerland?) and the fear of going over…

Read more… 15 Jun 07

Looking for info: Yarborough Monument

The Yarborough Monument on the hills of Culver Down looks out over the channel like a burnt out lighthouse. It is a memorial for Charles Anderson-Pelham, who became the first Earl of Yarborough in 1794 and founded the Royal Yacht Squadron. Lord Yarborough had what appears to have been an illustrious naval career but in…

Read more… 5 Jun 07

Buying US stamps abroad

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

Incoming

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

Geoffrey’s Leap

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

Accident Reports

CRJ 200 ferry flight crash with 19 on board at Kathmandu

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…

Air India 171 Crash Triggered by Fuel Cutoff

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.…

Demystifying

How to tell a Russian Su-27 from a British Typhoon

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…

How to tell an F-16 Fighting Falcon from a Eurofighter Typhoon

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…

History

Gladys Ingle Inflight Wheel Change: Emergency Action or Stunt?

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…

The Disappearance of the Hawaii Clipper May Not Be as Mysterious as Was Thought

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.…

Fun Stuff

How the B-52 Lands in Crosswinds

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…

Friday Lightness: A Short Respite from Crash Reports

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…