Stuka Survivors

The 'Stuka' was one of the most distinctive shapes to appear in the skies of Europe and North Africa during World War II - but not since then! Dave McDonald backgrounds the menacing Ju87 and catalogues the Survivors. Perhaps just as effective as a psychological weapon as a battlefield one, this ungainly, vulture shaped, close support aircraft earned itself a reputation of near mythical proportions during the early years of World War Two. It was tremendously effective acting as mobile artillery, delivering the opening knock out punches in what became a new era in warfare, known as the 'Blitzkrieg ' ( Lightning War). The Junkers 87 struck fear into the hearts of those on the ground as it dived near vertically out of the sky with its wind powered sirens wailing - a prelude to what was usually a pin point attack on enemy fortifications, bridges, ships and troop concentrations. Top

Flying The DH-2

It is a great privilege to be able to climb aboard an aircraft from a long bygone era, having read about them in history books all my life, and then start it up and fly away back in time. The Redfern Airco DH-2 is just such a time machine and I truly enjoy the experience of flying it. There is no question that the DH-2 is a different type of aircraft. Being a pusher, it is a very unusual configuration and you notice this as soon as you climb into it, if you CAN climb into it. It is without question the hardest of the WW-I machines to board. It's easy enough to see where you sit but how do you get there? Apart from the unusual steps needed to arrive at the cockpit, you also have to thread your way through obstacles, wires, etc while throwing your leg over the cockpit side. This must be the hardest thing about the DH-2, so it would be fair to say if you can get in it, you can probably fly it! Top

Mosquito Magic - A Bomber Is Born

Many have said it couldn't be done. Many others have said that it could be done, but it wouldn't be done because no one person would have the determination to stick out such a huge undertaking. And here we see a brand new, late production de Havilland Mosquito fuselage. It has indeed been done…magnificently! Glyn Powell of Auckland, New Zealand has produced the first new de Havilland Mosquito fuselage to be built since World War Two. Perhaps this needs some explanation! Top