Simple Flying

History

This year marks 120 years since the Wright Brothers' 1st flight, and an awful lot has happened in those years. On this page, you can find thousands of stories looking at the history of the industry.

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British Biplane: The Story Of The Sopwith Camel

This First World War-era aircraft has a fascinating backstory.

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Rare Rear-Engined Quadjet: The Story Of The Lockheed JetStar

The aircraft has a long and varied history, catering to VIP and military operators alike.

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Wooden Wonder: The Story Of The De Havilland DH.98 'Mosquito'

The Mosquito performed daylight bombing raids over German-occupied Europe.

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Reeve Aleutian Airways Flight 8: A Cabin Crew Perspective

A look back at what was a scary event for all involved.

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Did You Know About The Boeing 727's Re-Engining Program?

The 737 and 747 are two notable Boeing jets that have been re-engined over the years. But did you know about the 727?

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TWA
What Caused TWA Flight 800 To Explode In Mid-Air?

Preliminary investigation indicated the presence of a bomb onboard.

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Known For Its Forward-Swept Wings: The Story Of The HFB 320 Hansa Jet

The Hansa Jet was a business jet that never achieved its full potential. How did the aircraft come about, and what went wrong?

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777-300ER of Qatar Airways Landing With SEA and Seattle Backgroup - 4x3 1
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Enters 75th Year Celebrating Record Results

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is celebrating 75 years of service in 2024 - and new record results also.

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Mil V-12: The Story Of The Largest Helicopter Ever Built

A look back at the world's largest helicopter.

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western airlines boeing 727 1
What Happened To US Carrier Western Airlines?

The story of how a former mail carrier ended up merging with Delta Air Lines.

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A Complete History Of The B-52 Bomber In The US Air Force

The aircraft type has quite an extensive service history.

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How Did The Variants Of The French Dassault Mystere Fighter Bomber Differ From Each Other?

A short guide to the different variants of the Dassault Mystère.

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Why Is The F-16 Fighter Jet Still So Popular After 50 Years?

Since its first flight in 1974, the F-16 'Fighting Falcon' remains a top choice for air forces around the world

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South African Airways Boeing 747 Combi 1
5 Notable Accidents That Defined The History Of South African Aviation

South Africa's worst air disaster claimed over 150 lives.

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Why Was The MiG-15 Codenamed 'Fagot'?

A slightly derogatory name for an opposition fighter aircraft.

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5 Forgotten Facts About The P-51 Mustang

Nearing its retirement but is still in demand.

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KLM
Throwback: When KLM Said Goodbye To The Boeing 747

The big blue 747-400 was an iconic part of KLM's long-haul operations. It's hard to believe that the Dutch carrier no longer operates the jumbo jet.

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The Fastest Fighter Jet: A Look At The MiG-25

The MiG-25's mystique was shattered after the US was able to disassemble and examine it in Japan.

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Go Fly Boeing 737 In Faro 1
Throwback: When easyJet Gatecrashed The Launch Of British Airways' Low-Cost 'Go' Subsidiary

easyJet was determined to make noise when its competitor took to the skies.

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