Aviation is the science, art, and technology of heavier-than-air flight. The development of aviation was spurred by the desire to fly like a bird, to explore, to test the limits of human capability, and to learn more about the mystery of flight.
Powered flight began with experiments in kites and gliders in the late 1800s. The Wright brothers made the first controlled, sustained flight of a heavier-than-air aircraft in 1903, and within a few years airplanes were being used for military purposes and commercial transport.
Within just a few decades aicraft were reaching for the skies in every increasing speeds. The inter war years saw the rapid development of aero engines and systems. The gentle flying of the Tiger Moth was soon to evolve into the turbo charged Spitfire. Within four decades the aviation age saw the aerial battles of World War II.
Aviation has had a profound impact on society, and played a key role in the development of air travel, trade, commerce, and tourism. Today, aviation is an essential part of modern life, with passenger jets crisscrossing the globe carrying people and cargo.
Aircraft come in many different shapes and sizes, from small single-engine planes to massive multi engine jets, and their designs continue to evolve as engineers strive to make them faster, more efficient, and more comfortable.
Whether you’re a passenger on a commercial flight or a pilot at the controls of your own aircraft, flying is an amazing experience that everyone can enjoy, as long as we maintain the dwindling number of grass airfields and regional airports that are necessary for its survival.
This is a follow up post to the one I published on 5th September, prior to the 2018 Goodwood Revival. Last week’s post was entitled Goodwood Revival 2018 – No Air Displays. The video version of that post has received over 1,500 views and plenty of comments since it was published a few days ago. If you…
After 19 years of thrilling the crowds with spectacular air displays it seems the Goodwood Revival 2018’s aviation activities will be confined to the static displays and pre booked pleasure flights. The days of a Goodwood Revival air show are over, for this year at least. The 2018 Revival’s timetable contains no mention of any…
Chilbolton Observatory is one of Hampshire’s finest abandoned airfields. During World War II it was once home to squadrons of Spitfires, Hurricanes, Mustangs, Typhoons, and Vampires. Opened in 1940 as a satellite airfield for RAF Middle Wallop it was used by the RAF and USAAF. After the war it was used for flight tests before…
Learning to fly and obtaining a Private Pilot’s Licence isn’t cheap but you can avoid unnecessary expense with a little forward planning. Flying lesson costs will vary but in the long run the cheaper hourly rate may not be your best option. In this post I discuss the cost of obtaining a fixed wing Pilot’s Licence for…
For some students the prospect of studying the PPL Ground School subjects is just as daunting as learning to fly itself. Perhaps you were not top of the class in Maths or English. Maybe you doubt your own abilities, or is it the thought of speaking on the radio that worries you? The sheer amount…
You’ve finally done it. You’ve got your Private Pilot’s Licence (certificate). After months of study and hard work, you’ve earned it. Now you’re ready to take to the skies and enjoy the freedom of flight. But what comes next? Here are a few tips on how to make the most of your wings. First, be…
For some the path from a trial flight to PPL i.e. the acquisition of a Private Pilots Licence is one that takes only a few months to complete, but for me it was to last a little longer. My first taste of flying was as a child in the 1960s. My father had hired a helicopter to…
Airshows are a great day out for individuals and families. They can be enjoyed by anyone from aviation enthusiasts to those who may not a first consider themselves interested in aircraft, but who enjoy the spectacle and the occasion. With that in mind here are 5 essential tips for enjoying airshows that will help you to…
In July 2015 the aerospace giant Boeing predicted that the world would need 558,000 new pilots during the next twenty years. If this forecast for half a million pilots jobs were correct at the time (and they should know, being Boeing) then there has never been a better time to learn to fly. If you…
Aviation CO2 emissions are a hot topic of fierce debate. The news in September 2009 was that the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has revised its estimates and warns that households will need to reduce their carbon emissions by 90% by 2050 in order to offset the growth in aviation comes as a bit of…
Look carefully at the B-17 and note how shot up it is – one engine dead, tail, horizontal stabilizer and nose shot up. It was ready to fall out of the sky. (This is a painting done by an artist from the description of both pilots many years later.) Then realize that there is a…