AVAILABLE NOW
February 2012
ON THE COVER…
The final end of USAF SR-71 operations in 1997 came after many a previous attempt to ground this most spectacular of strategic reconnaissance assets. The story behind it was one of seemingly endless political and military in-fighting, one from which the ‘Habu’ was ultimately unable to escape. Shown on the cover is SR-71A 64-17971 of the 9th RW’s Det 2, cruising over California’s majestic Sierras during a training mission in the type’s final weeks of operation.
Cover image by Ted Carlson/Fotodynamics
Welcome to Classic Aircraft
If your interest is in the greatest years of aviation and the glory days of charismatic aircraft, then Classic Aircraft is the magazine for you.
From the most famous airliners to the most exciting military jets of all time, our coverage is second to none. Classic Aircraft places its focus on the jet and propeller-driven types of the post-war years, covering the developments in military aviation and fascinating operations during the Cold War period, and the huge changes that swept through the airline world as mass air travel became a reality.
But there's much more to the history in Classic Aircraft than that. We cover the heroes of World War Two, the inter-war period, World War One and the pioneer aviators; we also report on the vibrant aircraft preservation scene. Whatever the subject, stunning imagery accompanies informed, in-depth, intelligent articles from authors passionate about aviation, including ‘behind the scenes’ first-hand accounts and revealing 'from the cockpit' stories. Aviation writing gets no better.
Every issue is also packed with the latest event reports, opinionated columns and product reviews, while special free supplements throughout the year are not to be missed.
Classic Aircraft — the magazine for the aviation aficionado.
CONTRIBUTORS TO THE MAGAZINE - Denis J. Calvert
One of Aircraft's longer-serving contributors, Denis became one of the two founding fathers of Inter-Air Press and started writing for the magazine in 1972. The fact of having been born at Farnborough just eight days after Chuck Yeager went supersonic in the Bell X-1 may, or, of course, may not, have had an effect on his lifelong interest in British military aviation. Now resident in East Anglia, Denis also contributes to the magazine's monthly book reviews.
BOOK OF THE MONTH - English Electric Lightning
To say he got it wrong is to put it mildly. Defence Minister Duncan Sandys announced in the House on 4 April 1957 that the development of manned fighter aircraft for the RAF was to cease forthwith in favour of surface-to-air missiles. At a stroke, a generation of promising British supersonic fighter projects was axed. Only English Electric's P1 (it had yet to be christened Lightning) survived, probably because a development batch of 20 aircraft was already on order. In retrospect, Sandys' decision seems short-sighted and even crass yet, at the time, few commentators were prepared to stand up and tell him that he was talking out of his afterburner.
Editor's Blog - Latest Post
UPCOMING AIRSHOWS IN AUGUST
01 East Kirkby, Lincs: RAF Benevolent Fund 90th Anniversary Airshow (Tel: 01790 763207 | web: www.lincsaviation.co.uk)
01-02 Stoke Golding, Leics: Stoke Golding Stakeout (Tel: 01827 712706 | web: www.flysga.co.uk)
02 Elvington, N Yorks: Yorkshire Air Museum Thunder Day (Tel: 01904 608595 | web: www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk)
02 Old Warden, Beds: Shuttleworth Collection Military Pageant Air Show (Tel: 01767 627927 | web: www.shuttleworth.org)
06-09 Ashton Court, Bristol, Avon: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta (Tel: 0117 953 5884 | web: www.bristolfiesta.co.uk)
08-09 Damyns Hall, Essex: Military and Flying Machines (Tel: 01702 523457 | web: www.mvt-essex.org.uk)
SPECIAL ONLINE REPORTS
Commemorating the Berlin Airlift, 60 years on — a special Classic Aircraft online report
The Berlin Airlift was launched after the Soviets progressively cut off water, rail and road links with the Western sectors of the city, leaving the 2.2 million citizens with a rapidly dwindling stock of foodstuffs and other essentials...(Read More)
