The Armstrong Whitworth "Siskin" was one of the first fighter aircraft to be developed by the RAF after World War I. It was introduced into the RAF in 1924 and remained in service until 1932. The Siskin was a superb aerobatic aircraft and presented thrilling exhibitions of flying at every RAF display from 1925 to 1931. In 1926 the British Air...

Last Update: Monday February 16, 2009

The Avro CF-105 "Arrow", a supersonic all-weather two-seat interceptor, designed and produced by Avro Aircraft Limited for the RCAF was unveiled at Malton, Ontario on 4 October 1957, the same day the first Russian 'Sputnik' blasted off into orbit. The RCAF had decided to develop its own supersonic interceptor when no known project could meet its...

Last Update: Monday February 16, 2009

The first full production-standard CF-100, the Mk 3, flew for the first time in October 1952, powered by 2948-kg (6500-lb) thrust Orenda 9s, and entered service the next year armed with eight 0.5-in (12.7-mm) Colt-Browning machine-guns in a retractable ventral tray. This armament was supplemented in the Mk 4A by wing-tip pods of 2.75-in (70 mm)...

Last Update: Monday February 16, 2009

The Blackburn Roc was a further derivative of the Blackburn Skua. The redesign was very similar in concept to the Boulton Paul Defiant featuring a rear-firing, four gun powered turret.

However, once the aircraft's weaknesses and relatively poor performance were identified, the design was quickly relegated to target towing and advan...

Last Update: Monday February 16, 2009

First flown in August 1937, the Boulton Paul Defiant did not participate in operations until 12 May 1940 during the Battle of Britain. An unusual design, the initial surprise afforded by a rear-firing four gun powered turret accounted for 65 enemy aircraft. However, once the aircraft's weaknesses were identified, by August 1940, losses of Defiants...

Last Update: Monday February 16, 2009

The Bristol M.1C monoplane was an ultra-modern design that was truly ahead of its time. Unfortunately, precisely because of its design, it was relegated to obscurity and it served only in small numbers in the Macedonian and Middle East theatres where its excellent performance remained relatively unnoticed. The prototype M.1A was...

Last Update: Monday February 16, 2009

With a speed of 330 mph, air intercept radar and a one-two punch of cannons and machine guns (or torpedoes or rocket projectiles when engaged in anti-surface duties), the Bristol Beaufighter was one of the Second World War's most formidable night fighters, as well as being the backbone of Coastal Command's anti-shipping war.

Beaufighters were u...

Last Update: Monday February 16, 2009

In July 1965, the Canadian government selected the F-5 lightweight fighter as the new tactical fighter in the midst of a great degree of disdain. The F-5 had been designed as a cheap, throw away fighter for developing countries with limited technical expertise. For a country like Canada with a sophisticated aerospace industry, the aircraft selection...

Last Update: Sunday February 22, 2009