Historical: May 2009 Archives

Sir Geoffrey de Havilland died 44 years ago today. Pictured is a De Havilland Mosquito on display at the RAF Museum, Hendon, London.

In 1942 Flight published a feature on the Mosquito in its "Aircraft types and their characteristics" series, in which the aircraft was described as the "RAF's latest, and probably fastest, light reconnaissance- bomber."

See today's Flight Blog for Flight's obituary on the late great aviation pioneer.

Also....the de Havilland Aircraft Centre recently celebrated its 50th anniversary making it the UK's oldest heritage collection. 

"We prefer to say the first," says chairman Philip Birtles, who celebrated the landmark with a visit from the centre's Royal Petron, HRH The Duke of Gloucester.

The museum first opened on 15 May 1959 displaying the prototype DH98 Mosquito, a fitting exhibit is based at Salisbury Hall in London Colney where the "wooden wonder" was conceived and the prototypes were built. Series production took place at nearby Hatfield.

The museum, which now has three Mosquitoes along with other iconic DH aircraft and engine designs, is seeking funds to construct a permanent protection for its expanding collection and has lodged a Heritage Lottery Fund bid to assist with creating a Second World War experience named after famous RAF night fighter and DH test pilot, John Cunningham.

Aviatrix Amelia Earhart became the first woman to make solo flight across the North Atlantic, from Harbour Grace in Newfoundland to Derry in Northern Ireland. flying a Lockheed Vega.

Here's a video produced by Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

Naturally Flight recorded the event in its 27 May 1932 issue: "The first time in the History of Aeronautics the Atlantic has been conquered by a woman pilot, flying solo. This feat has been accomplished by Mrs. G. P. Putnam--or, as she is better known, Miss Amelia Earhart--who in 1928 flew as passenger from Newfoundland to South Wales in the Fokker seaplane Friendship, piloted by Wilmer Stultz.

"Miss Earhart--who has been nicknamed " Lady Lindy " on account of her likeness to Col. Charles Lindbergh, who made the first solo Atlantic flight exactly five years previous to her present feat--has also accomplished the crossing in the fastest time so far achieved."

Continue reading Flight's account....

Picture credit: Billypix

EBACE 2009, Day 1. Here is a general view of the static display. Check our EBACE 09 page which has all the latest news, images, blogs, videos and follow Flightglobal journalists as they tweet their way round the show...

Picture credit Rex Features/Jonathan Hordle

Britain's Royal Navy marked the centenary of its aviation with a celebratory flypast over HMS Illustrious on the River Thames today.

Forty naval aircraft led by four Merlin attack helicopters and including Sea Kings, Hawks and Jetstreams, flew directly over "Lusty" the strike carrier moored near Greenwich's Old Royal Naval College.

Prince Andrew, commodore-in-chief of the Navy met veterans of World War II, the Falklands War and the conflict in Afghanistan. HMS Illustrious will remained moored in London for the next few days.

The coming months are to be a period of celebration for the Royal Navy, with the UK's "senior service" marking the 100th anniversary of its first foray into aviation activities.

Continue reading Defence Editor Craig Hoyle's feature on a century of Royal Navy air power