Grand Palais: the birthplace of global aeronautics and the modern airshow
AeroTime columnist Renato Oliveira is Operations Director at PVJets Global Private Jets Company, which specializes in charter flights…
Aviation History
252 articles
Explore the captivating history of aviation, from groundbreaking achievements to influential milestones.
What the loss of Delta Flight 191 taught us about windshear and microbursts
The meteorological phenomena of microbursts and windshear, particularly during the final approach phase of flight, can be extremely…
Meet HOTOL: The British-designed space plane that never flew a mission
HOTOL (which stands for Horizontal Take-Off and Landing) was a British-designed space plane developed in the mid-1980s. The…
The World War II Allied ‘Ace’ pilots who became legends of the air
During World War II, allied pilots were among the most fearless and revered figures from the six-year conflict…
Hefty Bee: the Boeing 747 flying test bed retired by Rolls-Royce after 20 years
On July 9, 2025, one of the most peculiar jumbo jets to ever take to the sky was…
Operation Babylift ‘babies’, RAAF, Qantas crew reunite on Vietnam War’s 50th yr
Crew from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Qantas have reunited with ‘babies’ from 1975’s Operation Babylift…
Paris Air Show: the unforgettable highs and lows from its 116-year history
One of the world’s most celebrated aviation events will unfold at the International Paris Air Show from June…
From transatlantic glamour to bankruptcy: the turbulent history of TWA
December 2025 will mark the 24th anniversary since the last ever flight operated by the one-time great American…
World War II victory: How Allied forces used radar to win aerial battles in WW2
2025 marks 80 years since the official end of World War II. There are of course, many factors…
Boeing marks 30th anniversary of first 777 delivery
On May 15, 2025, Boeing marked the 30th anniversary of the first Boeing 777 delivery, to United Airlines. …
World War II: the aircraft crashes and tragedies that mystified us all
As nations around the world commemorate 80 years since Germany officially surrendered all military operations involved in World…
How the jet engine was born: The life of UK aviation pioneer Sir Frank Whittle
If you visit any major airport, it is hard to imagine a time when jet engines did not…
Supersonic Concorde ‘Sierra Bravo’ gains French historical monument status
The Concorde named ’Sierra Bravo’ has received historic monument status from the French government in a move designed…
Vintage WW2-era US Navy plane flies from US to UK for series of VE Day events
The world’s last airworthy Douglas R4D, the US Navy version of the Douglas DC-3 commercial airliner or its…
How did smoking on flights end up getting banned despite its glamorous role in aviation?
When you think about unruly passengers, the first things that probably come to mind are drunken brawls, passengers…
Double Sunrise: The story behind the world’s longest-ever commercial air service
Generally speaking, any commercial flight these days that exceeds ten hours (or so) is considered long, or at…
Retrojets: The iconic airline liveries of yesteryear that have made a return
Aircraft external paint schemes (‘liveries’) have come a long way over the decades. From the most basic designs…
Australian airline Qantas marks 90 years of international operations
Australian airline Qantas marked 90 years of international operations on April 17, 2025. Founded in 1920, Qantas is the…