Jean Batten flew England to New Zealand alone in 1936, a record that stood 44 years. She died in a Majorca hotel room and was buried in a paupers grave.
The Clipper That Flew Under the Bridge
On 22 November 1935 Pan Am’s China Clipper left Alameda for Manila, opening the Pacific to scheduled air service. It nearly hit the Bay Bridge on the way out.
Faster Than the 109, and Unwanted
Kurt Tank built a twin-engine fighter that outran the Bf 109 on the same engines. Nine were built and the Luftwaffe never ordered any.
Two Engines, One Nose, No Radiator
The Kawasaki Ki-64 buried two V12 engines in tandem around its pilot and cooled them through the skin of its wings. One was built.
The Helicopter That Lifted Another Helicopter
The Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion is the most powerful helicopter America has ever fielded. In April 2026 one of them picked up another one.
The Attack Helicopter With an Ejection Seat
The Kamov Ka-50 and Ka-52 have no tail rotor and the only working crew escape system ever fitted to a combat helicopter. It blows the rotor blades off first.
The Moscow Mystery Jet Carried the CIA Director
A USAF C-17 flew Riga to Moscow on 25 August 2026. By evening, US officials confirmed it had carried CIA Director John Ratcliffe on an unannounced trip.
ANA’s Green Pokemon Jet: Boeing 787-9 Debuts September 18
ANA has confirmed that its Green Pokemon Jet, a Boeing 787-9, enters international service on 18 September 2026.
Shot Down Twice, Then Vice President
Alexander Rutskoy was shot down twice flying Su-25s over Afghanistan, made Hero of the Soviet Union, and then became the only Vice President Russia ever had.
Nuclear Close Calls: Korea, Berlin, Cuba and Able Archer 83
Korea, Berlin, Cuba and Able Archer 83. Four times the Cold War nearly became a third world war, and the individuals who stopped it.
The 1988 Friendship Flight: A 737 Across the Bering Strait Ice Curtain
A Soviet An-24 stranded in an Alaskan village, a 45-minute Boeing 737 flight that reunited families split for 40 years, and the vodka that de-iced an MD-80.
Brocklesby Mid-Air Collision: The Pilot Who Landed Two Planes at Once
In 1940 two RAAF Ansons collided over New South Wales and stuck together. Three men jumped. The fourth flew the stack five miles and landed it in a paddock.
India Moves to Join FCAS: Sixth-Generation Fighter Bid Confirmed
India has told its parliament it is working to join France's FCAS sixth-generation fighter programme, and a committee is pushing the ministry to move faster.
Cobra 600 First Flight: Germany’s IRIS-T Missile Drone Takes Off
Diehl Defence and Polaris flew the Cobra 600 for the first time on 22 August. It carries one IRIS-T missile 250 miles and lets a ground radar take the shot.
Argentina Retires Super Etendards Grounded by UK Ejection Seat Ban
Argentina bought five Super Etendards from France in 2018. They never flew a sortie, because Britain would not release the ejection-seat cartridges.
Hungarian Gripen Crash at Szolnok: Pilot Steered Clear, Then Ejected
A Hungarian Gripen went down near Szolnok on 24 August. The 51-year-old pilot steered it onto military ground before ejecting, and broke his back doing it.
Italy Buys 5,031 APKWS II Rockets as Counter-Drone Weapons
In June 2025, an Italian Air Force spokesperson told Janes that Italy was not looking at acquiring any mission-specific systems to counter drones. On 21 August 2026, the US State Department approved the sale to Italy of 5,031 laser guidance kits designed to turn cheap...